White-winged Scoter vs Mute Swan
Melanitta deglandi verglichen mit Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | White-winged Scoter | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Melanitta deglandi | Cygnus olor |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | 152,0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Flügelspannweite | 54,0 cm (21.3 in) | 235,0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Gewicht | 1647,1666666666667 g (58.10 oz) | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Ernährung | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and small fish in coastal and inland waters. Favours mussels and … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Gelegegröße | 6-16 | 5-7 |
| 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
White-winged Scoter
Male produces a soft, whistled note; female gives a harsh, grating call. Similar to Velvet Scoter; the female's rasping call carries across North Pacific bays and coastal inlets.
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-winged Scoter
Breeds in boreal forest and tundra of interior North America. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to California and the Gulf states.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Erhaltungsstatus
White-winged Scoter
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
White-winged Scoter
Male is black with conspicuous white secondaries and a white comma-shaped mark below eye; orange-yellow bill with black basal knob. Female dark brownish-black with two pale facial patches and white …
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
About These Birds
White-winged Scoter
A large diving duck (~1.6 kg) in family Anatidae, distinguished by white secondaries visible in flight. Breeds on freshwater lakes in boreal North America; winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Dives for mussels, clams, and aquatic insects. Least Concern; North American populations remain broadly stable despite some local declines.
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.