Mute Swan vs Radjah Shelduck
Cygnus olor compared with Radjah radjah
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mute Swan | Radjah Shelduck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus olor | Radjah radjah |
| 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) | 54.0 cm (21.3 in) |
| Weight | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) | 883.5 g (31.16 oz) |
| Diet | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Dabbles for seeds and aquatic invertebrates; also grazes on grasses; diet shifts between land and … |
| Clutch Size | 5-7 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Radjah Shelduck
Mangroves, tidal mudflats, tropical coastal wetlands, and freshwater lagoons in New Guinea and the tropical north of Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia). Nests in tree hollows near water.
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.
Radjah Shelduck
A loud, rattling 'radjah-radjah' or repeated cackling 'rak-rak-rak'. Calls from tropical Australian and New Guinea wetlands. Name is partly onomatopoeic.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Radjah Shelduck
Breeds in the eastern Arctic of Russia; winters across southern Asia, from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Mute Swan
Radjah Shelduck
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
Radjah Shelduck
White head and body with chestnut breastband and white-spotted chestnut scapulars. Pink bill and legs. Iridescent green speculum with white bar visible in flight. Sexes similar. Australasian mangrove specialist.
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.
Radjah Shelduck
A medium-sized elegant shelduck with white body plumage, chestnut breast band, dark green back, and pinkish-red bill and legs. Found in coastal mangroves, mudflats, and tropical wetlands of New Guinea and northern Australia. Calls with a loud raspy rattling sound.