Tundra Swan vs Spotted Whistling-duck
Cygnus columbianus compared with Dendrocygna guttata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Swan | Spotted Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus columbianus | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 107.6 cm (42.4 in) | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) |
| Weight | 6675.0 g (235.45 oz) | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; filter-feeds in shallow water; diet becomes more invertebrate-heavy in … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 10-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Tundra Swan only
None
Spotted 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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Freshwater wetlands, rice fields, streams, and forest pools in New Guinea, Sulawesi, the Philippines, and Moluccas. Often found near forested rivers and seasonal swamps at low elevations.
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).
Spotted Whistling-duck
A musical, high whistle similar to other whistling-ducks. Call is softer and less far-carrying than White-faced or Black-bellied species. Given in flight and on water.
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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Conservation Status
Tundra Swan
Spotted 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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Dark brown above; head and neck dark brown. Underparts heavily spotted white on dark brown ground, giving spotted appearance. Flanks with bold white spots. Pink-red bill and legs. 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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A small dark brown whistling-duck with bold white spots on its flanks, orange-red bill and legs, and a pale face. Found in tropical wetlands of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Often found near freshwater streams and flooded grassland. Less gregarious than other whistling-ducks.