Fulvous Whistling-duck vs Mute Swan
Dendrocygna bicolor compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fulvous Whistling-duck | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna bicolor | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 44.6 cm (17.6 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 733.4 g (25.87 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes grasses and sedges in Arctic tundra; large migratory goose; winter diet dominated by agricultural … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | 6-16 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Fulvous Whistling-duck
Freshwater marshes, rice paddies, flooded fields, shallow lakes, and river margins across warm tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and South Asia. Highly nomadic, following rains.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Fulvous Whistling-duck
A soft, rhythmic 'ka-WHEE-00' whistle. Flocks give continuous soft whistling sounds during flight over tropical wetlands. Also gives shorter 'kee' contact notes.
Mute Swan
Despite its name, not truly mute: gives hissing snorts and low grunting when threatened. Wings produce a loud rhythmic whistling throbbing sound in flight.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fulvous Whistling-duck
Breeds across Eurasia from Iceland and western Europe to eastern Siberia; winters from Britain to the Mediterranean and South Asia.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Fulvous Whistling-duck
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Fulvous Whistling-duck
Warm fulvous-buff underparts with creamy white flank stripes. Upperparts dark brown with pale buff feather edges. Dark brown stripe down back of neck. Long bluish-gray legs. Sexes identical.
Mute Swan
All-white plumage in adults. Cygnets are grey-brown, gradually whitening over the first year. Graceful S-curved neck posture is distinctive.
Orange bill with a prominent black knob at the base, larger in males
About These Birds
Fulvous Whistling-duck
A medium-sized whistling-duck with warm tawny-brown body, dark brown back, creamy-white flank stripes, and a blue-grey bill. Among the most cosmopolitan of all waterfowl, occurring in North and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Highly nomadic, following seasonal rainfall.
Mute Swan
The mute swan is one of the heaviest flying birds, with males weighing up to 14 kg. Despite its name, it is not truly mute, producing hissing, grunting, and snorting sounds. Mute swans form lifelong pair bonds and their aggressive defense of nesting territory is well known.