Mute Swan vs King Eider
Cygnus olor comparado con Somateria spectabilis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Mute Swan | King Eider |
|---|---|---|
| Nombre científico | Cygnus olor | Somateria spectabilis |
| Orden | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familia | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Estado de conservación | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longitud | 152,0 cm (59.8 in) | — |
| Envergadura | 235,0 cm (92.5 in) | 53,3 cm (21.0 in) |
| Peso | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) | 1507,5 g (53.18 oz) |
| Dieta | 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 … |
| Tamaño de la puesta | 5-7 | 1-16 |
| 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
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.
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
Mute Swan
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.
Estado de conservación
Mute Swan
King Eider
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
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
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.
King Eider
El eider real es un gran pato marítimo ártico en el que el macho tiene un plumaje de cría espectacular con la cabeza de múltiples colores: azul-grisáceo, rosa y verde, con un prominente escudo frontal naranja. Cría en la tundra ártica y pasa el invierno en costas marinas, a menudo en aguas heladas. Forma grandes bandadas en el invierno que pueden contar con decenas de miles de individuos.