Black-necked Swan vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Cygnus melancoryphus compared with Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-necked Swan | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus melancoryphus | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 82.4 cm (32.4 in) | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 5275.0 g (186.07 oz) | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes aquatic plants and dabbles for invertebrates; diet includes seeds, roots, and aquatic invertebrates in … | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Clutch Size | 4-8 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Black-necked Swan
Freshwater lakes, lagoons, rivers, estuaries, and coastal wetlands in southern South America from central Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego. Partially migratory; concentrates at coastal estuaries in winter.
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
Black-necked Swan
A musical, whistling 'whoo' or soft 'whooh'. Less loud than Trumpeter or Whooper Swan. Gives hissing at close range. Considered relatively quiet for a large swan.
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
Black-necked Swan
Breeds across the northern Great Plains and prairie provinces; winters along the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico.
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
Black-necked Swan
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-necked Swan
White body plumage with entirely black head, neck, and upper foreneck. Red double-lobed knob at bill base. Bill grayish-blue. White stripe behind eye. Pink-red legs. Sexes similar; striking contrast.
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
Black-necked Swan
A large elegant swan with pure white body plumage and a contrasting jet-black neck and head, a red bill with bright red caruncle, and a white stripe behind the eye. Native to southern South America. Unique coloration makes it unmistakable. Feeds on aquatic vegetation by upending.
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.