Mallard vs King Eider
Anas platyrhynchos 对比 Somateria spectabilis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 属性 | Mallard | King Eider |
|---|---|---|
| 学名 | Anas platyrhynchos | Somateria spectabilis |
| 目 | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| 科 | 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) | 53.3 cm (21.0 in) |
| 体重 | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) | 1507.5 g (53.18 oz) |
| 食性 | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Dives for sea urchins, molluscs, and crustaceans in Arctic coastal waters. Shifts to freshwater invertebrates … |
| 产卵数 | 4-18 | 1-16 |
| 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.
King Eider
Male produces a melodious, ascending ooo-wuh cooing; female gives a guttural grunt. The male's haunting, dove-like call is one of the most atmospheric sounds of the High Arctic in spring.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
King Eider
Circumpolar High Arctic breeder in North America, Greenland, Svalbard, and Russia. Winters at sea in the North Atlantic and Bering Sea.
保护状况
Mallard
King Eider
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
King Eider
Male has bluish-grey crown, pale greenish cheeks, vivid orange-red frontal shield, black back and wings, and white breast patch. Female is warm rufous-brown with dark crescentic barring throughout.
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.
King Eider
王绒鸭是北极的大型海鸭，雄鸟嘴基有橙红色大肉瘤，头部具复杂的白色、蓝色和绿色图案，体羽黑白相间，极为华丽；雌鸟棕褐色。繁殖于北极苔原，越冬于阿拉斯加和加拿大北部沿海。善深潜，以贻贝和甲壳类为食，常结大群在北极海面越冬。