Mute Swan vs Common Shelduck
Cygnus olor comparado con Tadorna tadorna
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Mute Swan | Common Shelduck |
|---|---|---|
| Nombre científico | Cygnus olor | Tadorna tadorna |
| 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) | 62,8 cm (24.7 in) |
| Peso | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) | 1035,5 g (36.53 oz) |
| Dieta | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Eats seeds, leaves, and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in shallow water; diet broadly omnivorous and varies … |
| Tamaño de la puesta | 5-7 | 3-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Common Shelduck
Coastal estuaries, mudflats, saltmarshes, sand dunes, and inland saline lakes from northwest Europe east across Eurasia to China. Winters mainly on tidal estuaries and coastal wetlands. Nests in burrows.
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.
Common Shelduck
Male gives a whistled 'wheee'; female gives a cackling series of rapid nasal 'ak-ak-ak' notes. One of the most sexually dimorphic calls of any shelduck species.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Common Shelduck
Breeds in Siberian tundra; winters in eastern and southern Africa, and in South and Southeast Asia. Trans-hemispheric migrant.
Estado de conservación
Mute Swan
Common Shelduck
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
Common Shelduck
White body with dark green head, broad chestnut breastband, and black scapular stripes. Red bill with basal knob in males. Green speculum and black wingtips. Underparts white with black belly …
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.
Common Shelduck
El tarro común es un grande y llamativo pato con el inconfundible plumaje blanco con la cabeza verde-negro brillante, una ancha banda pectoral castaña y el pico rojo. Es frecuente en estuarios, costas arenosas, marismas y lagunas salinas desde Europa occidental hasta Asia central. Los pollos de varias familias se agrupan frecuentemente en guarderías bajo el cuidado de unos pocos adultos.