Plumed Whistling-duck vs Mallard
Dendrocygna eytoni comparé à Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Plumed Whistling-duck | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Dendrocygna eytoni | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Envergure | 46,4 cm (18.3 in) | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Poids | 877,5 g (30.95 oz) | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Grazes short tundra grasses; also takes aquatic vegetation; large Arctic goose wintering on coastal marshes … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Taille de la couvée | 8-14 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Plumed Whistling-duck
Grassy tropical wetland margins, flooded plains, and well-watered pastures in northern and eastern Australia. Grazes on land near water at night; rests on open ground or in trees during the day.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Plumed Whistling-duck
A high, reedy whistling call similar to other Dendrocygna. Plumed Whistling-duck gives 'grassy' grassland calls. Less musical than White-faced; contact notes are short whistles.
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
Plumed Whistling-duck
Breeds in the Holarctic tundra and boreal zones; winters on temperate coasts and large inland lakes globally.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Statut de conservation
Plumed Whistling-duck
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Plumed Whistling-duck
Pale brown head and neck; chestnut-brown back. Distinctive long, pale golden plumes extend from flanks. Breast pale pink with dark spots. Belly pale. Long pink legs. Upright posture. 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
Plumed Whistling-duck
A large whistling-duck with long buff flank plumes extending beyond the folded wings, brown body, pink bill, and upright posture. Endemic to Australia. Gregarious, forming large grazing flocks on grasslands near water. Feeds mainly on grasses and sedges rather than aquatic plants.
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.