Mallard vs Goosander
Anas platyrhynchos comparé à Mergus merganser
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Mallard | Goosander |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anas platyrhynchos | Mergus merganser |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) | — |
| Envergure | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) | 54,2 cm (21.3 in) |
| Poids | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) | 1488,0 g (52.49 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Dives for fish, especially salmon and trout, in rivers and lakes. Also takes frogs, crustaceans, … |
| Taille de la couvée | 4-18 | 4-22 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Goosander
Male gives a harsh, crow-like karrr call; female produces a guttural, grunting series. Both sexes produce loud, nasal calls; the male's harsh croaking is a distinctive winter river sound.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Goosander
Breeds across boreal forests of North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters on coasts and large rivers south to the Mediterranean and South Asia.
Statut de conservation
Mallard
Goosander
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Goosander
Male has dark green iridescent head, salmon-pink suffused white body, and black back; red serrated bill. Female has rufous-brown head with neat white chin patch, grey body, and pinkish-buff breast.
About These Birds
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.
Goosander
The largest merganser (~1.5 kg) in family Anatidae, males with glossy green heads and salmon-flushed white bodies. Breeds along rivers and lakes in northern Europe, Asia, and North America; winters on larger rivers and reservoirs. A pursuit-diver specializing in fish, using a serrated bill for grip. Least Concern with stable Holarctic distribution.