Chestnut Teal vs Mute Swan
Anas castanea compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Chestnut Teal | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas castanea | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 40.4 cm (15.9 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 662.25 g (23.36 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | 5-17 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Chestnut Teal
Coastal and estuarine wetlands, saltmarshes, estuaries, and coastal freshwater lakes in southeastern and southwestern Australia. More closely tied to coastal habitats than most Australian ducks.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Chestnut Teal
Female produces a loud, emphatic quacking series; male gives a high, whistled note. The female's resonant quacking call is a familiar sound of southern Australian coastal wetlands.
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
Chestnut Teal
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Chestnut Teal
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Chestnut Teal
Strong dimorphism. Males have iridescent dark green head; rich chestnut underparts with white flank patch. Brown back; dark undertail. Females mottled brown with pale face. Iridescent green speculum. Australian coastal.
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
Chestnut Teal
A small duck with males having a gorgeous iridescent green head, rich chestnut body, and green speculum with white border. Females are brown and hard to distinguish from Grey Teal. Endemic to Australia; common in coastal southeastern and southwestern Australia.
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.