Musk Duck vs Mute Swan
Biziura lobata compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Musk Duck | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Biziura lobata | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 42.3 cm (16.7 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 1930.75 g (68.11 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and plant material in Australian freshwater lakes. Highly aquatic; … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Musk Duck
Male produces a loud, explosive plonk call followed by bill-drumming on the water surface; female gives a harsh quack. The male's bizarre splashing display is unique and unmistakable among Australian …
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
Musk Duck
Endemic to southern Australia, including southeastern and southwestern regions. Found on wetlands with lignum and reeds.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Musk Duck
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Musk Duck
Both sexes are uniformly dark sooty-brown, densely barred and vermiculated with black; male has distinctive pendulous black lobe hanging below bill. Females and immatures are smaller and lack the lobe.
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
Musk Duck
Australia's largest stiff-tailed duck (~1.9 kg), family Anatidae, males bearing a leathery lobe pendant from the bill. Inhabits deep permanent freshwater lakes and swamps in southern Australia. Males emit a musky odor during courtship displays. Dives for fish, frogs, crustaceans, and mollusks. Least Concern; solitary and rarely seen due to secretive behavior.
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.