Mallard vs Magellanic Steamerduck
Anas platyrhynchos comparé à Tachyeres pteneres
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Mallard | Magellanic Steamerduck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anas platyrhynchos | Tachyeres pteneres |
| 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) | 52,2 cm (20.6 in) |
| Poids | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) | 4881,25 g (172.18 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Feeds on seeds, aquatic invertebrates, and plant matter; dabbles in wetlands; diet heavily invertebrate during … |
| Taille de la couvée | 4-18 | 4-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Magellanic Steamerduck
Rocky coastal shores, kelp-fringed channels, and sheltered bays of Patagonian Chile and Argentina. Flightless; confined to coastline. Nests on rocky shorelines. Uses wings to propel across water surface.
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.
Magellanic Steamerduck
A loud, rattling, staccato 'kik-kik-kik' that sounds like a steam engine — hence 'steamerduck'. The wings also produce a loud churring sound as they beat the water surface.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Magellanic Steamerduck
Breeds in the Arctic and sub-Arctic; winters on the open Pacific Ocean from British Columbia to Baja California.
Statut de conservation
Mallard
Magellanic Steamerduck
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
Magellanic Steamerduck
Heavy, flightless. Males gray with white eye-stripe and orange-yellow bill. Breast and flanks mottled rufous-brown. Females more brown with white eye-ring and olive-yellow bill. Wings used for steaming.
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.
Magellanic Steamerduck
A large flightless steamerduck with grey-blue plumage, a rust-orange head (male), and massive orange-red bill. Named for its habit of steaming across water using wings and feet. Found on rocky Patagonian coasts and sheltered channels. Among the world's heaviest ducks at up to 6 kg.