Bufflehead vs Mute Swan
Bucephala albeola compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bufflehead | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bucephala albeola | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 32.2 cm (12.7 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 400.5 g (14.13 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for aquatic insects, crustaceans, and small molluscs in freshwater and coastal habitats. One of … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | 5-14 | 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
Bufflehead
Male produces a soft, squeaky whistle; female gives a harsh, nasal quack. The male's thin, reedy whistle is barely audible; pairs exchange quiet contact calls at boreal forest ponds.
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
Bufflehead
Breeds in boreal forest of western and central North America. Winters along both coasts and interior lakes from southern Canada south to Mexico.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Bufflehead
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Bufflehead
Male has iridescent green-purple head with a large triangular white patch from behind eye over crown; body clean white except for black back. Female is dark sooty-brown with a single …
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
Bufflehead
North America's smallest diving duck (~400 g), family Anatidae, males iridescent purple-green with a large white head patch. Breeds in forested areas near ponds and lakes, nesting in woodpecker cavities; winters on coastal bays and inland waters. Feeds on aquatic invertebrates and small fish. Least Concern with stable populations.
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.