Mute Swan vs Common Eider
Cygnus olor compared with Somateria mollissima
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mute Swan | Common Eider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus olor | Somateria mollissima |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) | 56.0 cm (22.0 in) |
| Weight | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) | 2042.8333333333333 g (72.06 oz) |
| Diet | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Dives for blue mussels, clams, and crustaceans in shallow coastal waters. Swallows shellfish whole and … |
| Clutch Size | 5-7 | 2-7 |
| 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
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.
Common Eider
Male produces a loud, resonant ah-WOOO cooing; female gives a deep, guttural quacking series. The male's iconic moaning call echoes across North Atlantic coastlines; a classic seaduck sound.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Common Eider
Breeds on Arctic and subarctic coasts from the North Atlantic to the Pacific. Winters along coasts of northwestern Europe and eastern North America.
Conservation Status
Mute Swan
Common Eider
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
Common Eider
Male is strikingly pied: white back, neck, and breast contrasting with black cap, belly, and flanks; nape washed pale lime-green. Female uniformly barred warm tawny-brown with darker streaks.
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.
Common Eider
The heaviest duck in the Northern Hemisphere (~2 kg), family Anatidae. Breeds colonially on rocky coasts and islands of the North Atlantic and Arctic. Dives for mussels and crustaceans in shallow marine waters. Females line nests with insulating down. Near Threatened due to recent declines in parts of its range from hunting and pollution.