Surf Scoter vs Höckerschwan
Melanitta perspicillata verglichen mit Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Surf Scoter | Höckerschwan |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Melanitta perspicillata | Cygnus olor |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | 152,0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Flügelspannweite | 45,3 cm (17.8 in) | 235,0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Gewicht | 1019,75 g (35.97 oz) | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Ernährung | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and herring spawn in coastal waters. Uses its distinctive swollen bill … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Gelegegröße | 5-9 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Höckerschwan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Surf Scoter
Male produces a low, gurgling burble; female gives a crow-like, guttural cawing. The female's rasping, crow-like call is startling; males make soft, liquid gurgling notes during courtship.
Höckerschwan
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
Surf Scoter
Breeds in boreal forests and tundra of northern North America. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to Baja California and the Carolinas.
Höckerschwan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Erhaltungsstatus
Surf Scoter
Höckerschwan
How to Tell Them Apart
Surf Scoter
Male is entirely glossy black except for white patches on forehead and nape; bill tricolored orange, red, and white with black spot. Female sooty-brown with two white facial patches.
Höckerschwan
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
Surf Scoter
A medium-sized diving duck (~1 kg) of the family Anatidae, males all-black with a multicolored bill and white head patches. Breeds on boreal lakes and wetlands of North America; winters in coastal bays and surf zones. Dives for mussels, clams, and crustaceans. Least Concern; populations are considered stable overall.
Höckerschwan
Der Höckerschwan gehört zu den schwersten flugfähigen Vögeln; Männchen können bis zu 14 kg wiegen. Trotz seines englischen Namens („Mute Swan“, stummer Schwan) ist er keineswegs stumm und gibt zischende, grunzende und schnaubende Laute von sich. Höckerschwäne gehen lebenslange Paarbindungen ein, und ihre aggressive Verteidigung des Brutreviers ist bekannt.