Coscoroba Swan vs Mute Swan
Coscoroba coscoroba compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Coscoroba Swan | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coscoroba coscoroba | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 84.2 cm (33.1 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 4200.0 g (148.15 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; dabbles and upends in shallow water; diet more invertebrate-heavy … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Coscoroba Swan
Freshwater lakes, marshes, lagoons, and flooded grasslands from southern Brazil through Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego. Partially migratory; moves northward in winter. Nests in reedy margins.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Coscoroba Swan
A bugling, honking 'coscoroba' call — giving the species its onomatopoeic name. Loud and far-carrying. Less commonly heard than northern hemisphere swans.
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
Coscoroba Swan
Breeds in western North American prairies and parklands; winters in California, the Southwest, and northern Mexico.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Coscoroba Swan
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Coscoroba Swan
Entirely white plumage except black wingtips visible in flight. Bright red bill and red legs and feet. Red eye-ring. More goose-like than true swans. Juvenile has brownish wash. Sexes similar.
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
Coscoroba Swan
The smallest swan and the only member of its genus, differing from true swans with a more goose-like head, red-pink bill and legs, and all-white plumage with black wingtips. Found in southern South America. Swims gracefully and grazes shoreline vegetation. Loud coscoroba call is distinctive.
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.