Mallard vs Common Scoter

Anas platyrhynchos 对比 Melanitta nigra

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Side-by-Side Comparison

属性 Mallard Common Scoter
学名 Anas platyrhynchos Melanitta nigra
Anseriformes Anseriformes
Anatidae Anatidae
保护状况 Least Concern Least Concern
体长 58.0 cm (22.8 in)
翼展 90.0 cm (35.4 in) 44.2 cm (17.4 in)
体重 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) 1127.25 g (39.76 oz)
食性 Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … Dives for bivalves, especially cockles, mussels, and clams, in shallow coastal seas. Also eats crustaceans …
产卵数 4-18 6-8
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Mallard 58.0 cm
Common Scoter
翼展
Mallard 90.0 cm
Common Scoter 44.2 cm
体重
Mallard 1100.0 g
Common Scoter 1127.25 g
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Habitat Comparison

共同栖息地

Mallard only

Common Scoter only

Mallard

Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.

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Song & Call Comparison

Mallard

鸣唱

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.

Common Scoter

鸣唱

Male gives a soft, piping whistle; female produces a harsh, rasping call. The male's piping whistle is subtle; female's harsh calls dominate on European winter coasts and estuaries.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Mallard

Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.

Common Scoter

Breeds on moorland and boreal tundra from Iceland and Britain east to western Siberia. Winters on northwestern European coasts and the Baltic Sea.

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保护状况

Least Concern

Mallard

Least Concern

Common Scoter

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How to Tell Them Apart

Mallard

羽毛

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

Common Scoter

羽毛

Male is entirely sooty black without white markings; orange-yellow patch on upper bill with small black knob. Female brownish-black above with contrasting pale cream cheeks and throat.

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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.

Common Scoter

黑海番鸭是欧亚大陆的黑色海鸭,雄鸟全身黑色,仅嘴基具明亮的橙黄色斑块;雌鸟褐色,脸颊浅色。繁殖于苏格兰、斯堪的纳维亚和西伯利亚北部,越冬于西欧和北非大西洋沿岸。善潜水,以软体动物和甲壳类为食,常在近岸浅海越冬。

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