Mute Swan vs Freckled Duck
Cygnus olor compared with Stictonetta naevosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mute Swan | Freckled Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus olor | Stictonetta naevosa |
| 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) | 46.5 cm (18.3 in) |
| Weight | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) | 888.25 g (31.33 oz) |
| Diet | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds in shallow water; upends in wetlands; diet shifts toward plant … |
| Clutch Size | 5-7 | 5-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Freckled Duck
Dense inland freshwater swamps, tea-tree bogs, and reedy lakes across southern and inland Australia. Highly nomadic; follows ephemeral inland flooding. Key breeding sites in Murray-Darling Basin swamps.
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.
Freckled Duck
Soft, nasal 'quacking' and grunting sounds. Considered a quieter, more secretive duck than most. Males give a soft wheeze; females give low quacks. Not vocal by duck standards.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Freckled Duck
Breeds in the sub-Arctic and boreal regions of North America; winters inland and coastally across the southern United States.
Conservation Status
Mute Swan
Freckled Duck
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
Freckled Duck
Dark grayish-brown plumage densely freckled with pale spots and streaks throughout. Head large and rounded with peaked crown. Bill gray-blue with red patch at base in breeding males. Sexes similar.
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.
Freckled Duck
An unusual Australian duck with dark brown plumage densely speckled with small pale spots. Considered a living fossil with no close relatives—placed in its own subfamily. Males have a red base to the bill in breeding season. Found in inland Australia; highly nomadic following rainfall.