Crested Duck vs Mute Swan
Lophonetta specularioides compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Duck | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophonetta specularioides | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 53.8 cm (21.2 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 941.3833333333333 g (33.21 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in ponds and marshes; diet more invertebrate-heavy in … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | 5-8 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Crested Duck
Fast-flowing Andean rivers, lakes, and puna wetlands from sea level to 4,500 m in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. Occupies both coastal and high-altitude wetland habitats.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Crested Duck
Produces a harsh, rattling call and loud hissing alarm notes. Both sexes vocalize with grating, nasal croaking sounds echoing across Andean rocky shores and rivers.
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
Crested Duck
Breeds across Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the most abundant Palearctic ducks on the African wintering grounds.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Crested Duck
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Crested Duck
Brown body with dark streaking; long pointed crest on hindcrown. Face and throat pale with dark eye patch. Iridescent purple-bronze speculum bordered white. Bill and legs grayish. Sexes similar. Andean …
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
Crested Duck
A large grey-brown Andean duck with a slightly shaggy crest on the nape, long neck, and bronze-and-black speculum. Found along fast-flowing Andean rivers and high-altitude lakes. Highly territorial; pairs defend stretches of river or lakeshores. Feeds by dabbling and upending.
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.