Black-headed Duck vs Mallard
Heteronetta atricapilla comparado com Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Black-headed Duck | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Heteronetta atricapilla | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Ordem | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Família | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Estado de conservação | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | — | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Envergadura | 34,7 cm (13.7 in) | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Peso | 528,5 g (18.64 oz) | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Dieta | Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Tamanho da postura | 2 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Black-headed Duck
Male gives a soft, raspy peeping note; female produces a muted quack. An obligate brood parasite with reduced vocalizations; subdued calls suit its secretive lifestyle among Argentine reeds.
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
Black-headed Duck
Resident in southern South America from southern Brazil and Bolivia south to Argentina and Chile. Found on lakes and marshes in open lowlands.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Estado de conservação
Black-headed Duck
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-headed Duck
Male has distinctive jet-black head and neck, warm chestnut-brown back, and pale buff underparts; blue-grey bill with red base. Female is streaked brown above with pale supercilium and whitish underparts.
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
Black-headed Duck
O pato-parasita-de-cabeça-preta é um pato único da América do Sul que é um parasita de ninho obrigatório, não construindo o seu próprio ninho. Põe ovos exclusivamente nos ninhos de outros patos, principalmente patos de cauda rígida e macaquinhos-do-pântano. Os machos têm cabeça preta característica e corpo acastanhado. Habita zonas húmidas de água doce na Argentina, Uruguai, sul do Brasil e Chile. As fêmeas têm ovários altamente desenvolvidos e podem pôr muitos ovos ao longo de uma temporada.
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.