Mauritius Duck vs Mute Swan
Anas theodori compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mauritius Duck | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas theodori | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | — | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | — | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Extinct; fed on freshwater invertebrates and aquatic plants; diet inferred from bill morphology and contemporary … | 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
Mauritius Duck
Historically restricted to the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius and Réunion) in the Indian Ocean. Now extinct. Presumably inhabited freshwater wetlands and coastal areas before human colonization.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Mauritius Duck
Extinct (EX). No recordings exist. As a small island Anas duck, likely produced a quiet quacking call. Closest living relatives among insular Indian Ocean teals give soft, nasal notes.
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
Mauritius Duck
Breeds in Arctic tundra ponds of Canada; winters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the southern United States.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Mauritius Duck
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Mauritius Duck
Extinct Mascarene duck known only from subfossil bones. Plumage unrecorded; presumably brown dabbling duck plumage typical of Anas. Likely flightless or near-flightless; extirpated after European settlement of Mauritius.
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
Mauritius Duck
An extinct duck known from subfossil bones found on Mauritius and Réunion. Closely related to the Grey Teal. Went extinct after European settlement of the Mascarene Islands in the 17th century due to hunting and introduced predators.
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.