Mallard vs Ruddy Shelduck
Anas platyrhynchos comparé à Tadorna ferruginea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Mallard | Ruddy Shelduck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anas platyrhynchos | Tadorna 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) | 71,1 cm (28.0 in) |
| Poids | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) | 1318,3333333333333 g (46.50 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Feeds on seeds, plant material, and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in wetlands; diet varies between seasons … |
| Taille de la couvée | 4-18 | 8-16 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Ruddy Shelduck
Steppe lakes, river valleys, inland saline and freshwater wetlands from southeastern Europe and North Africa east through Central Asia to China and Mongolia. Winters on lakes and rivers in South and Southeast Asia.
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.
Ruddy Shelduck
A loud, resonant bugling 'aakh' from males; females give a rapid cackling 'kak-kak-kak'. Call carries far across open Asian steppe and river valleys.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Ruddy Shelduck
Breeds in wetlands across Eurasia; winters from sub-Saharan Africa to South and Southeast Asia. Broad wintering distribution.
Statut de conservation
Mallard
Ruddy Shelduck
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
Ruddy Shelduck
Warm orange-rufous overall plumage; paler buffy head. Males have narrow black neck collar in breeding season. Black tail and primaries. White wing coverts and iridescent green speculum visible in flight. …
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.
Ruddy Shelduck
A large orange-brown shelduck with a pale buff head, black neck ring (male only), white wing patches, and bright green speculum. Widespread from Morocco and southeastern Europe east to China. Sacred to Buddhists in Tibet. Nests in burrows, rock crevices, and ruins.