Mallard vs Andean Duck
Anas platyrhynchos comparé à Oxyura ferruginea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Mallard | Andean Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anas platyrhynchos | Oxyura ferruginea |
| 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) | 31,4 cm (12.4 in) |
| Poids | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) | 800,75 g (28.25 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Dives for aquatic invertebrates and plant seeds in Andean lakes and marshes. Diet similar to … |
| Taille de la couvée | 4-18 | 6-10 |
| 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.
Andean Duck
Male gives a rapid, staccato drumming display call; female produces a nasal, quacking rattle. The male's mechanical drumming is similar to Ruddy Duck; echoes across Andean high-altitude lakes.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Andean Duck
Resident in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina. Found on high-altitude lakes above 3,000 m.
Statut de conservation
Mallard
Andean Duck
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
Andean Duck
Male is dark chestnut-rufous overall with black head, white cheeks tinged grey, and deep blue bill. Female is dark brownish with pale cheeks divided by a dark bar; similar to …
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.
Andean Duck
A stocky stiff-tailed duck (~800 g) of family Anatidae inhabiting high-altitude Andean lakes and wetlands from Colombia to Argentina. Males are rich chestnut with a blue bill during the breeding season. Dives for aquatic plants and invertebrates in cold Andean waters. Least Concern; formerly considered conspecific with Ruddy Duck but now recognized as a distinct species.