Black-necked Swan vs Spotted Whistling-duck
Cygnus melancoryphus compared with Dendrocygna guttata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-necked Swan | Spotted Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus melancoryphus | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 82.4 cm (32.4 in) | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) |
| Weight | 5275.0 g (186.07 oz) | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes aquatic plants and dabbles for invertebrates; diet includes seeds, roots, and aquatic invertebrates in … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … |
| Clutch Size | 4-8 | 10-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Black-necked Swan only
None
Spotted Whistling-duck only
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.
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
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.
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
Black-necked Swan
Breeds across the northern Great Plains and prairie provinces; winters along the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Conservation Status
Black-necked Swan
Spotted 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.
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
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.
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.