Snow Goose vs Mandarin Duck
Anser caerulescens comparé à Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Snow Goose | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anser caerulescens | Aix galericulata |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | 44,0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Envergure | 82,4 cm (32.4 in) | 70,0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Poids | 2561,0 g (90.34 oz) | 570,0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Grazes submerged aquatic vegetation and eelgrass in estuaries; also takes grasses and sedges on coastal … | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-6 | 7-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Snow Goose
Breeds on coastal and inland Arctic tundra in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland. Winters on agricultural fields, marshes, and coastal wetlands across the United States and northern Mexico. Forms enormous flocks.
Mandarin Duck
Wooded lakes, rivers, and ponds surrounded by dense forest. Unlike most ducks, regularly perches in trees and nests in tree cavities.
Song & Call Comparison
Snow Goose
A loud, nasal barking 'luk-luk' or 'kow-kow'. Large flocks create enormous noise during Arctic nesting and winter staging. Considered a noisy, conspicuous goose.
Mandarin Duck
Male gives a low whistled 'hib' or 'weep'. Female utters a soft quacking 'kek'. Generally quiet and secretive. No loud territorial song; vocalizations subtle and brief.
Geographic Range & Migration
Snow Goose
Breeds in eastern North America's boreal forest; winters on the Atlantic coast from New England to South Carolina.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Statut de conservation
Snow Goose
Mandarin Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Snow Goose
Mandarin Duck
Breeding males have an elaborate pattern of orange, green, white, and purple with distinctive orange sail feathers on the back. Females are grey-brown with a white eye-ring and stripe.
Small red bill in breeding males, pinkish in females
About These Birds
Snow Goose
A distinctive goose with two morphs—white with black wingtips, or 'blue morph' with dark body and white head. Large flocks create spectacular migration events. Breeds in the Arctic; winters in the United States and Mexico. Population growth has caused severe overgrazing of Arctic salt marshes.
Mandarin Duck
The mandarin duck is widely considered the most beautiful duck in the world. In East Asian culture, mandarin ducks symbolize love and fidelity because they form strong pair bonds. Unlike most ducks, mandarins nest in tree holes up to 9 meters above the ground, and day-old ducklings must leap to the ground.