Tundra Swan vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Cygnus columbianus compared with Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Swan | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus columbianus | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 107.6 cm (42.4 in) | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 6675.0 g (235.45 oz) | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; filter-feeds in shallow water; diet becomes more invertebrate-heavy in … | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Tundra Swan only
Wandering Whistling-duck only
None
Tundra Swan
Breeds on Arctic tundra ponds and lakes in Alaska, Canada, and Siberia. Winters on coastal estuaries, shallow bays, agricultural fields, and freshwater lakes in North America, Europe, and eastern Asia.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Tropical freshwater marshes, flooded grasslands, swamps, and lake margins from the Philippines and Indonesia through Papua New Guinea to northern and eastern Australia. Nomadic following wet season flooding.
Song & Call Comparison
Tundra Swan
A high, bugling 'who-who-who' with a musical quality. North American subspecies (Whistling Swan) produces a higher-pitched call than European Bewick's Swan (Cygnus c. bewickii).
Wandering Whistling-duck
A soft whistle 'whi-whi-whi' in flight. Less vocal than other whistling-ducks; flocks tend to be quieter. Given at dawn and dusk during flight to roosting or feeding areas.
Geographic Range & Migration
Tundra Swan
Breeds in the northern Great Plains; winters along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida. Uses the Central and Mississippi flyways.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic regions; winters at sea around the Antarctic pack ice, one of the longest migrations known.
Conservation Status
Tundra Swan
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Tundra Swan
All-white plumage; bill black with small yellow patch at base near eye. Neck shorter and rounder-headed than Trumpeter Swan. Juveniles grayish-brown. Bewick's race has more extensive yellow on bill.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Rich chestnut-brown head and neck; dark brown back. Flanks rufous with pale buff streaks and dark spots. Belly blackish. Long, dark pinkish legs. Upright posture typical of whistling-ducks. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Tundra Swan
A medium-sized white swan with a black bill often marked with a small yellow spot at the base. Migrates in large flocks between Arctic tundra breeding grounds and temperate wintering areas. Two subspecies: Bewick's Swan in the Old World and Whistling Swan in the New World.
Wandering Whistling-duck
A medium-sized whistling-duck with rufous-brown body, dark brown back, pale buff underparts, and a chestnut collar. Found in tropical wetlands from Indonesia to Australia and Pacific islands. Highly social and nomadic. Forages by dabbling and diving in shallow freshwater.