Harlequin Duck vs Mute Swan
Histrionicus histrionicus compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Harlequin Duck | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Histrionicus histrionicus | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 38.8 cm (15.3 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 553.0 g (19.51 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Forages in fast-flowing streams for aquatic insect larvae, amphipods, and small fish. Dives and clings … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | 3-9 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Harlequin Duck
Male gives a squeaky, mouse-like squeal; female produces a guttural, grunting call. The male's bizarre, high-pitched squealing call is completely unexpected in such a compact seaduck.
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
Harlequin Duck
Breeds on fast-flowing rivers in Iceland, Greenland, and northern North America. Winters along rocky Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to California.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Harlequin Duck
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Harlequin Duck
Male is slate-blue with bold white crescent before eye, white spots and streaks on head, neck, and scapulars, and rich chestnut flanks. Female is dark sooty-brown with three white facial …
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
Harlequin Duck
A compact sea duck (~550 g) in family Anatidae, males strikingly patterned in slate-blue with chestnut and white markings. Breeds along fast-flowing mountain streams in North America, Greenland, and Iceland; winters on rocky surf-swept coastlines. Feeds on aquatic invertebrates. Least Concern with stable populations across its range.
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.