Mute Swan vs Blue-winged Teal
Cygnus olor compared with Spatula discors
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mute Swan | Blue-winged Teal |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus olor | Spatula discors |
| 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) | 35.7 cm (14.1 in) |
| Weight | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) | 400.5 g (14.13 oz) |
| Diet | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Dabbles for aquatic invertebrates and seeds; diet shifts between plant-heavy and invertebrate-heavy phases seasonally. |
| 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.
Blue-winged Teal
Breeds on prairie wetlands, lakes, and marshes across North America. Winters on freshwater and coastal wetlands from the southern United States through Central America to South America.
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.
Blue-winged Teal
Male gives a high, thin whistle; female produces a rapid, descending quacking laugh. The nasal, laughing female call is immediately recognizable in North American freshwater marshes.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Blue-winged Teal
Breeds in tundra of northern Russia and Alaska; winters on the open North Pacific from Alaska to Japan and California.
Conservation Status
Mute Swan
Blue-winged 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
Blue-winged Teal
Males have slate-blue head with bold white crescent before eye. Body brown with dark spots. Pale blue forewing patch and green speculum conspicuous. Females mottled brown with pale loral spot. …
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.
Blue-winged Teal
A small brown teal. Males have a slate-grey head with a large white crescent before the eye and a striking pale blue-grey wing patch visible in flight. One of North America's most abundant ducks. Long-distance migrant; winters from the southern United States to South America.