Mute Swan vs Southern Pochard
Cygnus olor compared with Netta erythrophthalma
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mute Swan | Southern Pochard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus olor | Netta erythrophthalma |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) | 41.6 cm (16.4 in) |
| Weight | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) | 820.8 g (28.95 oz) |
| Diet | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; eats hard-shelled prey; diet shifts with coastal habitat … |
| Clutch Size | 5-7 | 5-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Southern Pochard
Freshwater and brackish lakes, pans, and marshes in sub-Saharan Africa and separately in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador. Nomadic in Africa; follows seasonal flooding.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Southern Pochard
Male gives a harsh, buzzy churr; female produces a series of resonant quacks. The male's buzzy display call is subdued; the female's loud, emphatic quacking dominates African wetland sounds.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Southern Pochard
Breeds across northern North America; winters along both coasts, the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Caribbean Basin.
Conservation Status
Mute Swan
Southern Pochard
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Southern Pochard
Males deep brown with iridescent black head and red eye; pale blue-gray bill with dark tip. Females brown with pale face and pale crescent behind eye. White wing stripe in …
About These Birds
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.
Southern Pochard
A medium-sized diving duck. Males have a dark chestnut-brown head and body with a white eye-ring and red eye; females are brown with white facial crescent. Found in sub-Saharan Africa and South America. Nomadic in Africa; follows water availability.