Red-breasted Merganser vs Mute Swan
Mergus serrator compared with Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-breasted Merganser | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mergus serrator | Cygnus olor |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 46.7 cm (18.4 in) | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Weight | 1058.3333333333333 g (37.33 oz) | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates in coastal and freshwater habitats. Pursues fish … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Clutch Size | 6-14 | 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
Red-breasted Merganser
Male produces a harsh, rasping series of notes; female gives a rough, guttural grunting. The harsh, rattling call is louder than Goosander; pairs and flocks create a rasping coastal cacophony.
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
Red-breasted Merganser
Circumpolar breeder in boreal and Arctic zones. Winters on coasts and large water bodies south to the Mediterranean and southern Asia.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Red-breasted Merganser
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-breasted Merganser
Male has dark green shaggy double crest, speckled chestnut breast band, white collar, and grey flanks; red bill. Female has rufous-brown head with ragged crest blending gradually into grey neck …
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
Red-breasted Merganser
A medium-sized fish-eating duck (~1.1 kg) in family Anatidae, males with a ragged double crest, green head, and rufous breast band. Breeds near freshwater and coastal habitats across the Northern Hemisphere; winters in estuaries and coastal seas. Dives in pursuit of fish and invertebrates. Least Concern; one of the fastest flying ducks, reaching 100 km/h.
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.