Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Mallard
さえずり
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.
Smew
さえずり
Male gives a soft, crow-like krr note; female produces a grating, rasping call. Both sexes are relatively quiet; the male's harsh, crow-like call is surprisingly low for such a small …
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Smew
Breeds in boreal forests of northern Europe and Siberia. Winters on large lakes and coasts from western Europe east to Japan and China.
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Conservation Status Comparison
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保全状況
Least Concern
Mallard
Least Concern
Smew
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Mallard
羽毛
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.
くちばし
Broad, flat bill — yellow-green in males, orange-brown in females
Smew
羽毛
Male is largely white with black eye patch, black lines on back, and fine black lines on flanks creating a cracked-ice pattern. Female has chestnut-red head, white cheeks, and grey …
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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More Birds in Family
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