Great Cormorant vs Mute Swan
Phalacrocorax carbo comparé à Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Great Cormorant | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Phalacrocorax carbo | Cygnus olor |
| Ordre | Suliformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Phalacrocoracidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) | 152,0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Envergure | 145,0 cm (57.1 in) | 235,0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Poids | 2600,0 g (91.71 oz) | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Fish caught by diving from the surface. Pursues prey underwater using powerful feet for propulsion. … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-7 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Great Cormorant
Coasts, estuaries, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Nests in colonies in trees, on cliffs, or on the ground.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Great Cormorant
Deep, guttural grunts and 'karrr' calls at colonies. Bill-clicking and hissing in threat displays. Silent at sea. Colonial noise can be deafening during the breeding season.
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
Great Cormorant
Very wide range across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. One of the most widespread cormorant species.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Statut de conservation
Great Cormorant
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Great Cormorant
All black with a bronze-green gloss. White throat patch and white thigh patches in breeding season. Yellow-orange face patch around the bill base.
Long, hooked, dark bill with a yellow gape
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
Great Cormorant
The great cormorant is one of the most widespread seabirds in the world. Unlike most waterbirds, cormorants lack fully waterproof plumage, leading to the iconic pose of standing with wings spread open to dry. In Asia, cormorants have been used by fishermen to catch fish for over a thousand years.
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.