Baer's Pochard vs Mute Swan
Aythya baeri compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Baer's Pochard | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aythya baeri | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 40.4 cm (15.9 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 707.25 g (24.95 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for molluscs and aquatic invertebrates; diet dominated by hard-shelled benthic prey in coastal shallow-water … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | 6-13 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Baer's Pochard
Breeds on lakes and rivers in boreal forests of eastern Siberia and northeastern China. Winters on freshwater lakes and wetlands in eastern and southeastern Asia. Critically Endangered; tiny remaining population.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Baer's Pochard
Male gives a low, grating wheeze; female produces a harsh quacking series. Calls resemble Tufted Duck but slightly softer; among the rarest duck calls in East Asia due to its …
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
Baer's Pochard
Breeds in Arctic Canada and Alaska; winters at sea off both US coasts and in the Great Lakes during migration.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Baer's Pochard
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Baer's Pochard
Males have dark glossy greenish-black head; chestnut breast; white flanks and undertail. White eye. Females brown with chestnut breast and pale face patch. White wing stripe in flight. Critically endangered …
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
Baer's Pochard
A medium-sized diving duck. Males have a glossy green-black head, chestnut breast, and white flanks; females are brown. Critically Endangered; one of the fastest declining ducks in Asia. Breeds in eastern Siberia; winters in eastern China and Southeast Asia. Threatened by hunting.
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.