Mandarin Duck vs Surf Scoter
Aix galericulata comparé à Melanitta perspicillata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Mandarin Duck | Surf Scoter |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Aix galericulata | Melanitta perspicillata |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 44,0 cm (17.3 in) | — |
| Envergure | 70,0 cm (27.6 in) | 45,3 cm (17.8 in) |
| Poids | 570,0 g (20.11 oz) | 1019,75 g (35.97 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and herring spawn in coastal waters. Uses its distinctive swollen bill … |
| Taille de la couvée | 7-14 | 5-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
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.
Surf Scoter
Male produces a low, gurgling burble; female gives a crow-like, guttural cawing. The female's rasping, crow-like call is startling; males make soft, liquid gurgling notes during courtship.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Surf Scoter
Breeds in boreal forests and tundra of northern North America. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to Baja California and the Carolinas.
Statut de conservation
Mandarin Duck
Surf 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
Surf Scoter
Male is entirely glossy black except for white patches on forehead and nape; bill tricolored orange, red, and white with black spot. Female sooty-brown with two white facial patches.
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.
Surf Scoter
A medium-sized diving duck (~1 kg) of the family Anatidae, males all-black with a multicolored bill and white head patches. Breeds on boreal lakes and wetlands of North America; winters in coastal bays and surf zones. Dives for mussels, clams, and crustaceans. Least Concern; populations are considered stable overall.