Tufted Duck vs Mute Swan
Aythya fuligula compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tufted Duck | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aythya fuligula | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 39.4 cm (15.5 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 700.0 g (24.69 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; diet dominated by hard-shelled benthic prey in coastal … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | 3-22 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Tufted Duck
Breeds on freshwater lakes and rivers with emergent vegetation across Eurasia from Iceland and western Europe east to Siberia and Japan. Winters on large open lakes, reservoirs, and sheltered coastal bays.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Tufted Duck
Male emits a soft, low wheeze; female gives a grating, repeated quack. A common call on Eurasian freshwater lakes; male's soft purring is quiet while female's quacking is emphatic and …
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
Tufted Duck
Breeds in sub-Arctic and boreal Canada; winters along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean. Rare elsewhere in winter.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Tufted Duck
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Tufted Duck
Males black with white flanks; rounded head with long drooping black tuft. Yellow eye. Females dark brown with shorter tuft; pale flanks; sometimes white at base of bill. Bold white …
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
Tufted Duck
A small compact diving duck. Males are boldly black-and-white with a drooping crest; females are brown with a shorter crest. Common and widespread across Eurasia. Males are highly distinctive. Dives for molluscs, invertebrates, and plants in freshwater and coastal habitats.
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.