Muscovy Duck vs Mute Swan
Cairina moschata comparé à Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Muscovy Duck | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Cairina moschata | Cygnus olor |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | 152,0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Envergure | 69,0 cm (27.2 in) | 235,0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Poids | 2140,0 g (75.49 oz) | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Eats seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; dabbles in wetlands; omnivorous diet shifts with season and … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Taille de la couvée | 8-15 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Muscovy Duck
Tropical and subtropical lowland forest near rivers, lakes, mangroves, and wetlands from Mexico through Central America to Peru, Bolivia, and Uruguay. Common near forest-edge water. Feral populations worldwide.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Muscovy Duck
Males are nearly silent; females give a raspy, low 'grrrr' hiss when threatened. Domesticated birds familiar worldwide but wild birds are surprisingly quiet and secretive.
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
Muscovy Duck
Breeds across northern Eurasia from Scandinavia east to the Russian Far East; winters in the tropical Old World.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Statut de conservation
Muscovy Duck
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Muscovy Duck
Glossy black plumage with large white wing patches. Bare red facial skin with warty caruncles, more extensive in males. Males larger; females less knobby-faced. Dark bill. Domestic forms vary widely …
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
Muscovy Duck
A large powerfully built duck with black-and-white plumage, bare red caruncles on the face of males, and strong claws for perching in trees. Native from Mexico to Peru and Uruguay. Widely domesticated worldwide; feral populations on every continent. The ancestor of domestic Muscovy ducks.
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.