Ross's Goose vs Mallard
Anser rossii comparado com Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Ross's Goose | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Anser rossii | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Ordem | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Família | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Estado de conservação | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | — | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Envergadura | 69,2 cm (27.2 in) | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Peso | 1513,5 g (53.39 oz) | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Dieta | Eats aquatic plants, seeds, and grasses near wetlands; omnivorous in breeding; takes invertebrates in shallow … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Tamanho da postura | 2-8 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Ross's Goose
Breeds on tundra near Hudson Bay and the central Canadian Arctic. Winters in agricultural fields, rice paddies, and wetlands in the central and southern United States, particularly California's Central Valley.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Ross's Goose
A high, nasal yelping 'whoik' or 'hoik' — higher-pitched than Snow Goose. Flocks mix with Snow Geese; calls differ noticeably by pitch. Fast, repeated notes in flight.
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ross's Goose
Breeds in high Arctic tundra; winters at sea in the North Atlantic from Iceland to the British Isles and northeastern United States.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Estado de conservação
Ross's Goose
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Ross's Goose
Smallest white North American goose; pure white plumage with black wingtips. Short triangular pink bill with warty pinkish-gray base. Pink-red legs. Occasional blue morph. Sexes similar.
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
About These Birds
Ross's Goose
O ganso-de-ross é o menor ganso branco da América do Norte. Assemelha-se ao ganso-branco mas é consideravelmente menor com bico mais curto, arredondado e sem o sorriso preto característico do ganso-branco. Cria em colónias densas na tundra ártica canadiana. Hiberna no Vale Central da Califórnia e no Sul dos Estados Unidos. As populações têm crescido dramaticamente nas últimas décadas, tornando-se um dos poucos gansos cujas populações têm aumentado significativamente.
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.