Mute Swan vs Rosy-billed Pochard
Cygnus olor compared with Netta peposaca
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mute Swan | Rosy-billed Pochard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus olor | Netta peposaca |
| 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) | 46.1 cm (18.1 in) |
| Weight | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) | 1103.4 g (38.92 oz) |
| Diet | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in shallow coastal water; diet dominated by invertebrates. |
| Clutch Size | 5-7 | 10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Rosy-billed Pochard
Freshwater lakes, marshes, and lagoons in southern South America from central Brazil through Bolivia, Uruguay, and Argentina to Patagonia. Often on large open lakes. Partially migratory; moves northward in winter.
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.
Rosy-billed Pochard
Male gives a deep, burping boom; female produces a loud, grunting quack. The male's resonant booming call during display is among the most powerful calls of South American wildfowl.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Rosy-billed Pochard
Breeds in northern prairies; winters on interior wetlands and coasts from the southern US to Central America.
Conservation Status
Mute Swan
Rosy-billed 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
Rosy-billed Pochard
Males dark sooty-black with iridescent purple gloss on head; bright rosy-red bill with pink knob. White flanks visible when at rest. Females brown with pale face and gray bill. Bold …
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.
Rosy-billed Pochard
A large striking pochard. Males are black-and-grey with an unmistakable bulging bright red bill knob; females are brown. Found in freshwater lakes of southern South America. Common in the Pampas and Patagonia. Often dives to the lake bottom for aquatic plants.