Mallard vs Southern Pochard
Anas platyrhynchos comparado com Netta erythrophthalma
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Mallard | Southern Pochard |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Anas platyrhynchos | Netta erythrophthalma |
| Ordem | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Família | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Estado de conservação | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) | — |
| Envergadura | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) | 41,6 cm (16.4 in) |
| Peso | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) | 820,8 g (28.95 oz) |
| Dieta | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; eats hard-shelled prey; diet shifts with coastal habitat … |
| Tamanho da postura | 4-18 | 5-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Southern Pochard
Freshwater and brackish lakes, pans, and marshes in sub-Saharan Africa and separately in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador. Nomadic in Africa; follows seasonal flooding.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Southern Pochard
Male gives a harsh, buzzy churr; female produces a series of resonant quacks. The male's buzzy display call is subdued; the female's loud, emphatic quacking dominates African wetland sounds.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Southern Pochard
Breeds across northern North America; winters along both coasts, the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Caribbean Basin.
Estado de conservação
Mallard
Southern Pochard
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Southern Pochard
Males deep brown with iridescent black head and red eye; pale blue-gray bill with dark tip. Females brown with pale face and pale crescent behind eye. White wing stripe in …
About These Birds
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.
Southern Pochard
A medium-sized diving duck. Males have a dark chestnut-brown head and body with a white eye-ring and red eye; females are brown with white facial crescent. Found in sub-Saharan Africa and South America. Nomadic in Africa; follows water availability.