Common Kestrel vs Mandarin Duck
Falco tinnunculus в сравнении с Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Характеристика | Common Kestrel | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Научное название | Falco tinnunculus | Aix galericulata |
| Отряд | Falconiformes | Anseriformes |
| Семейство | Falconidae | Anatidae |
| Охранный статус | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Длина | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | 44,0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Размах крыльев | 74,0 cm (29.1 in) | 70,0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Масса | 190,0 g (6.70 oz) | 570,0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Питание | Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Размер кладки | 1-7 | 7-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Общие среды обитания
Common Kestrel only
Mandarin Duck only
Common Kestrel
Open country including farmland, grasslands, moorland, and urban areas. Common along motorways and in cities across Europe.
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
Common Kestrel
A shrill, repeated 'kee-kee-kee-kee' or 'kik-ik-ik', especially near nest. Alarm call is a nasal chattering. Generally less vocal than larger falcons. Calls ring clearly in open country.
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Kestrel
Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Охранный статус
Common Kestrel
Mandarin Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Kestrel
Males have a blue-grey head and tail with a rufous back spotted with black. Females are rufous-brown with heavy barring. Both have a dark moustachial stripe.
Short, hooked grey bill with a yellow cere
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
About These Birds
Common Kestrel
The common kestrel is Europe's most abundant falcon, famous for its ability to hover motionless in the wind while scanning for prey. Research has shown kestrels can see ultraviolet light, allowing them to detect vole urine trails that reflect UV. The species has adapted remarkably well to urban environments.
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.