Höckerschwan vs King Eider
Cygnus olor verglichen mit Somateria spectabilis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Höckerschwan | King Eider |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Cygnus olor | Somateria spectabilis |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | 152,0 cm (59.8 in) | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 235,0 cm (92.5 in) | 53,3 cm (21.0 in) |
| Gewicht | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) | 1507,5 g (53.18 oz) |
| Ernährung | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Dives for sea urchins, molluscs, and crustaceans in Arctic coastal waters. Shifts to freshwater invertebrates … |
| Gelegegröße | 5-7 | 1-16 |
| 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
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.
King Eider
Male produces a melodious, ascending ooo-wuh cooing; female gives a guttural grunt. The male's haunting, dove-like call is one of the most atmospheric sounds of the High Arctic in spring.
Geographic Range & Migration
Höckerschwan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
King Eider
Circumpolar High Arctic breeder in North America, Greenland, Svalbard, and Russia. Winters at sea in the North Atlantic and Bering Sea.
Erhaltungsstatus
Höckerschwan
King Eider
How to Tell Them Apart
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
King Eider
Male has bluish-grey crown, pale greenish cheeks, vivid orange-red frontal shield, black back and wings, and white breast patch. Female is warm rufous-brown with dark crescentic barring throughout.
About These Birds
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.
King Eider
A large sea duck (~1.5 kg) of the family Anatidae, males adorned with an ornate orange frontal shield and vivid plumage. Inhabits Arctic coasts and tundra, migrating to subarctic seas in winter. Dives up to 25 m to forage on mussels, clams, and sea urchins. Least Concern; circumpolar breeding population remains stable.