Red-breasted Goose vs Mallard
Branta ruficollis comparé à Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Red-breasted Goose | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Branta ruficollis | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Envergure | 69,1 cm (27.2 in) | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Poids | 1253,25 g (44.21 oz) | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Grazes grasses, seeds, and aquatic plants; introduced to many wetlands; upends in shallow water for … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Taille de la couvée | 3-10 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Red-breasted Goose
Breeds on river-terrace tundra in northwestern Siberia, often near Peregrine or Rough-legged Buzzard nests for protection. Winters on agricultural steppes and lake margins around the Black Sea and Caspian Sea.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Red-breasted Goose
A high-pitched, rapid 'kik-kik-kik' call. More vocal during migration; flocks give constant chattering. Considered a more squeaky, high-pitched call than other Branta geese.
Mallard
Female gives the classic 'quack-quack-quack', descending in pitch. Male utters soft nasal 'raeb-raeb'. Both give a high 'gag-gag-gag' when alarmed or taking flight.
Geographic Range & Migration
Red-breasted Goose
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic tundra in North America; winters along both US coasts and interior wetlands south to Central America.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Statut de conservation
Red-breasted Goose
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-breasted Goose
Unmistakable; vivid chestnut-red patch on face and breast bordered by white stripes. Black crown, back, wings, and belly. White flank stripe and undertail. Compact and striking. Sexes similar.
Mallard
Breeding males have an iridescent green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, and grey body. Females are mottled brown. Both sexes show a blue speculum bordered by white.
Broad, flat bill — yellow-green in males, orange-brown in females
About These Birds
Red-breasted Goose
A small strikingly patterned goose with a vivid chestnut-red breast and face patch, black-and-white body, and white flank stripe. Breeds in Siberian tundra; winters mainly around the Black Sea. One of the most colorful and endangered geese, threatened by hunting and agricultural changes at wintering sites.
Mallard
The mallard is the ancestor of most domestic duck breeds and the most abundant and widespread dabbling duck in the world. Males perform elaborate courtship displays including head-bobbing and whistle-grunt calls. Mallards are highly adaptable, thriving in both wilderness and urban environments.