Mallard vs Paradise Shelduck

Anas platyrhynchos 对比 Tadorna variegata

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

属性 Mallard Paradise Shelduck
学名 Anas platyrhynchos Tadorna variegata
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) 70.2 cm (27.6 in)
体重 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) 1569.5 g (55.36 oz)
食性 Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … Eats seeds, grasses, and aquatic invertebrates; grazes near water; dabbles in shallows; diet varies with …
产卵数 4-18 5-15
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Size Comparison

Body Length
Mallard 58.0 cm
Paradise Shelduck
翼展
Mallard 90.0 cm
Paradise Shelduck 70.2 cm
体重
Mallard 1100.0 g
Paradise Shelduck 1569.5 g
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

共同栖息地

Mallard only

Paradise Shelduck only

Mallard

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

Paradise Shelduck

Open farmland, grassland, lake shores, riverbeds, and wetlands throughout both main islands of New Zealand. Nests in caves, burrows, hollow trees, and dense vegetation. Highly territorial in the breeding season.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

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.

Paradise Shelduck

鸣唱

Male gives a high-pitched whistle; female gives a loud, harsh cackling call 'rak-rak-rak'. New Zealand's only endemic shelduck; calls echoing in open farmland are distinctive.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Geographic Range & Migration

Mallard

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

Paradise Shelduck

Breeds in Eurasia from the UK to Siberia; winters across sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

保护状况

Least Concern

Mallard

Least Concern

Paradise Shelduck

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

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

Paradise Shelduck

羽毛

Extreme dimorphism. Males have black head with green gloss and black-and-chestnut body. Females have pure white head and neck contrasting with rich chestnut-rufous body. Both show white wing patches. New …

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

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.

Paradise Shelduck

新西兰麻鸭(皮阿伊鸭)是新西兰特有的大型鸭子,以其两性明显的颜色差异著称:雄鸟头颈翠绿色,体羽棕栗色;雌鸟头颈黄白色,体羽棕褐色。以毛利语名称Pūtangitangi亦为人所知。广泛分布于新西兰各地,偏好草地和湿地环境。是受新西兰法律保护的物种。

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Related Comparisons

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family