Mandarin Duck vs Velvet Scoter
Aix galericulata comparé à Melanitta fusca
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Mandarin Duck | Velvet Scoter |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Aix galericulata | Melanitta fusca |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Longueur | 44,0 cm (17.3 in) | — |
| Envergure | 70,0 cm (27.6 in) | 51,8 cm (20.4 in) |
| Poids | 570,0 g (20.11 oz) | 1635,1666666666667 g (57.68 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … | Dives for mussels, cockles, and crustaceans in coastal and brackish waters. Freshwater insects taken on … |
| Taille de la couvée | 7-14 | 7-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mandarin Duck only
Aucun(e)
Velvet Scoter only
Mandarin Duck
Wooded lakes, rivers, and ponds surrounded by dense forest. Unlike most ducks, regularly perches in trees and nests in tree cavities.
Song & Call Comparison
Mandarin Duck
Male gives a low whistled 'hib' or 'weep'. Female utters a soft quacking 'kek'. Generally quiet and secretive. No loud territorial song; vocalizations subtle and brief.
Velvet Scoter
Male emits a low, melodious whistled note; female produces a guttural, rasping call. The male's soft whistle contrasts with the female's harsh, buzzy alarm call on European coasts.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Velvet Scoter
Breeds in boreal forests of northern Europe and western Siberia. Winters on coasts of northwestern Europe, the Black Sea, and Caspian Sea.
Statut de conservation
Mandarin Duck
Velvet Scoter
How to Tell Them Apart
Mandarin Duck
Breeding males have an elaborate pattern of orange, green, white, and purple with distinctive orange sail feathers on the back. Females are grey-brown with a white eye-ring and stripe.
Small red bill in breeding males, pinkish in females
Velvet Scoter
Male is jet black overall with a small white teardrop below eye and white speculum visible in flight; yellow-sided bill with black knob at base. Female is dark brown with …
About These Birds
Mandarin Duck
The mandarin duck is widely considered the most beautiful duck in the world. In East Asian culture, mandarin ducks symbolize love and fidelity because they form strong pair bonds. Unlike most ducks, mandarins nest in tree holes up to 9 meters above the ground, and day-old ducklings must leap to the ground.
Velvet Scoter
A large sea duck (~1.6 kg) of the family Anatidae, males black with a white wing patch and yellow-sided bill. Breeds on lakes and rivers of northern Eurasia; winters on coastal waters of Europe. Forages by diving for mollusks and crustaceans. Vulnerable due to significant population declines attributed to hunting pressure and habitat degradation.