Mute Swan vs Baikal Teal
Cygnus olor compared with Sibirionetta formosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mute Swan | Baikal Teal |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus olor | Sibirionetta formosa |
| 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) | 41.2 cm (16.2 in) |
| Weight | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) | 446.75 g (15.76 oz) |
| Diet | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Dabbles for seeds, aquatic invertebrates, and plant matter; omnivorous diet varies with season and water … |
| Clutch Size | 5-7 | 4-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Baikal Teal
Breeds in boreal taiga along Siberian rivers and boggy ground from western to northeastern Siberia. Winters on freshwater lakes and rice fields in South Korea, Japan, and eastern China.
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.
Baikal Teal
Male gives a soft, liquid wot-wot call; female produces a low, nasal quack. Wintering flocks create a musical murmuring chorus of whistled notes on East Asian wetlands.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Baikal Teal
Breeds in montane and boreal zones across Eurasia; winters at lower elevations and southern latitudes in Europe and Asia.
Conservation Status
Mute Swan
Baikal Teal
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
Baikal Teal
Males have exquisitely patterned green-and-buff head with bold white and black facial stripes. Pinkish breast with black spots; gray flanks; long drooping scapulars. Females brown with white loral spot and …
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.
Baikal Teal
A strikingly beautiful teal with intricately patterned golden, green, black, and white head; pink-brown breast; and grey flanks. Breeds in Siberian taiga; winters in East Asia. Once seriously depleted, now recovering. Forms spectacular flocks of hundreds of thousands at South Korean wintering sites.