Tundra Swan vs Mandarin Duck
Cygnus columbianus compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Swan | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus columbianus | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 107.6 cm (42.4 in) | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 6675.0 g (235.45 oz) | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; filter-feeds in shallow water; diet becomes more invertebrate-heavy in … | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 7-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
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.
Mandarin Duck
Wooded lakes, rivers, and ponds surrounded by dense forest. Unlike most ducks, regularly perches in trees and nests in tree cavities.
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).
Mandarin Duck
Male gives a low whistled 'hib' or 'weep'. Female utters a soft quacking 'kek'. Generally quiet and secretive. No loud territorial song; vocalizations subtle and brief.
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.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Tundra Swan
Mandarin 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.
Mandarin Duck
Breeding males have an elaborate pattern of orange, green, white, and purple with distinctive orange sail feathers on the back. Females are grey-brown with a white eye-ring and stripe.
Small red bill in breeding males, pinkish in females
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.
Mandarin Duck
The mandarin duck is widely considered the most beautiful duck in the world. In East Asian culture, mandarin ducks symbolize love and fidelity because they form strong pair bonds. Unlike most ducks, mandarins nest in tree holes up to 9 meters above the ground, and day-old ducklings must leap to the ground.