Tundra Swan vs African Pygmy-goose
Cygnus columbianus compared with Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Swan | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus columbianus | Nettapus auritus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 107.6 cm (42.4 in) | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 6675.0 g (235.45 oz) | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; filter-feeds in shallow water; diet becomes more invertebrate-heavy in … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
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.
African Pygmy-goose
Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.
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).
African Pygmy-goose
Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.
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.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Tundra Swan
African Pygmy-goose
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.
African Pygmy-goose
Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.
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.
African Pygmy-goose
A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.