Mallard vs Velvet Scoter
Anas platyrhynchos в сравнении с Melanitta fusca
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Характеристика | Mallard | Velvet Scoter |
|---|---|---|
| Научное название | Anas platyrhynchos | Melanitta fusca |
| Отряд | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Семейство | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Охранный статус | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Длина | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) | — |
| Размах крыльев | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) | 51,8 cm (20.4 in) |
| Масса | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) | 1635,1666666666667 g (57.68 oz) |
| Питание | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Dives for mussels, cockles, and crustaceans in coastal and brackish waters. Freshwater insects taken on … |
| Размер кладки | 4-18 | 7-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
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.
Velvet Scoter
Male emits a low, melodious whistled note; female produces a guttural, rasping call. The male's soft whistle contrasts with the female's harsh, buzzy alarm call on European coasts.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Velvet Scoter
Breeds in boreal forests of northern Europe and western Siberia. Winters on coasts of northwestern Europe, the Black Sea, and Caspian Sea.
Охранный статус
Mallard
Velvet Scoter
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
Velvet Scoter
Male is jet black overall with a small white teardrop below eye and white speculum visible in flight; yellow-sided bill with black knob at base. Female is dark brown with …
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.
Velvet Scoter
A large sea duck (~1.6 kg) of the family Anatidae, males black with a white wing patch and yellow-sided bill. Breeds on lakes and rivers of northern Eurasia; winters on coastal waters of Europe. Forages by diving for mollusks and crustaceans. Vulnerable due to significant population declines attributed to hunting pressure and habitat degradation.