Mallard vs Scarlet Macaw

Anas platyrhynchos comparé à Ara macao

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Mallard Scarlet Macaw
Nom scientifique Anas platyrhynchos Ara macao
Ordre Anseriformes Psittaciformes
Famille Anatidae Psittacidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur 58,0 cm (22.8 in) 85,0 cm (33.5 in)
Envergure 90,0 cm (35.4 in) 110,0 cm (43.3 in)
Poids 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) 1000,0 g (35.27 oz)
Régime alimentaire Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … Fruits, nuts, seeds, and flowers from rainforest canopy trees. Visits clay licks to detoxify compounds …
Taille de la couvée 4-18 1-4
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Size Comparison

Body Length
Mallard 58,0 cm
Scarlet Macaw 85,0 cm
Envergure
Mallard 90,0 cm
Scarlet Macaw 110,0 cm
Poids
Mallard 1100,0 g
Scarlet Macaw 1000,0 g
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Mallard only

Scarlet Macaw only

Mallard

Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.

Scarlet Macaw

Humid tropical lowland rainforests, gallery forests, and forest edges. Requires large mature trees with cavities for nesting.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Mallard

Chant

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.

Scarlet Macaw

Chant

Very loud, raucous squawking screams 'araak-araak'. Also gives chattering contact calls in pairs. Capable of mimicking human speech in captivity. Highly vocal throughout the day.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Geographic Range & Migration

Mallard

Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.

Scarlet Macaw

Southern Mexico through Central America to Amazonian South America, including Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Mallard

Least Concern

Scarlet Macaw

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Mallard

Plumage

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.

Bec

Broad, flat bill — yellow-green in males, orange-brown in females

Scarlet Macaw

Plumage

Brilliant scarlet red body with bright yellow wing coverts and blue flight feathers and tail. Large white bare facial patch around the eye.

Bec

Large, strongly curved bill — pale horn upper mandible, dark lower mandible

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

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.

Scarlet Macaw

The scarlet macaw is one of the most iconic tropical birds with its dazzling tricolor plumage. These highly intelligent parrots form lifelong pair bonds and can live over 75 years in captivity. They play an important ecological role as seed dispersers in Neotropical rainforests.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Related Comparisons

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family