Green-winged Teal vs Mute Swan
Anas carolinensis compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-winged Teal | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas carolinensis | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 35.0 cm (13.8 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 330.5 g (11.66 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Eats aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, and seeds; dives in shallow water; diet shifts between invertebrates and … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Green-winged Teal
Breeds on boreal and subarctic wetlands across North America. Winters on freshwater marshes, coastal estuaries, rice paddies, and shallow wetlands from the southern United States to Central America and the Caribbean.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Green-winged Teal
Male produces a high, clear krick call; female gives a subdued quack. Closely related to Common Teal; male's ringing call punctuates North American freshwater marshes in spring.
Mute Swan
Despite its name, not truly mute: gives hissing snorts and low grunting when threatened. Wings produce a loud rhythmic whistling throbbing sound in flight.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-winged Teal
Breeds in Arctic regions; winters at sea across the North Pacific, from Alaska to Japan and northern California.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Green-winged Teal
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-winged Teal
Males have chestnut head with iridescent green eye patch; gray body; vertical white shoulder stripe (vs. horizontal in Common Teal). Cream and black undertail. Females mottled brown. Smallest North American …
Mute Swan
All-white plumage in adults. Cygnets are grey-brown, gradually whitening over the first year. Graceful S-curved neck posture is distinctive.
Orange bill with a prominent black knob at the base, larger in males
About These Birds
Green-winged Teal
A small dabbling duck, the North American counterpart to Common Teal. Males have a rich chestnut head with broad metallic green eye-stripe, finely vermiculated grey body, and a distinctive white vertical breast stripe. One of North America's most abundant ducks.
Mute Swan
The mute swan is one of the heaviest flying birds, with males weighing up to 14 kg. Despite its name, it is not truly mute, producing hissing, grunting, and snorting sounds. Mute swans form lifelong pair bonds and their aggressive defense of nesting territory is well known.