Mute Swan vs Green Pygmy-goose
Cygnus olor comparé à Nettapus pulchellus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Mute Swan | Green Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Cygnus olor | Nettapus pulchellus |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 152,0 cm (59.8 in) | — |
| Envergure | 235,0 cm (92.5 in) | 33,8 cm (13.3 in) |
| Poids | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) | 328,75 g (11.60 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Eats seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; dabbles in shallow fresh water; diet varies between seasons … |
| Taille de la couvée | 5-7 | 8-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Green Pygmy-goose
Lily-covered tropical freshwater billabongs, lagoons, and seasonal floodplains in New Guinea and the tropical Top End of the Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia. Highly dependent on aquatic vegetation.
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.
Green Pygmy-goose
Male gives a high-pitched, melodic two-note whistle; female produces a quiet, nasal grunt. Courtship includes rapid chattering exchanges between paired birds on tropical lagoons.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Green Pygmy-goose
Breeds across northern and central Eurasia; winters in tropical Africa and South Asia.
Statut de conservation
Mute Swan
Green Pygmy-goose
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
Green Pygmy-goose
Males have dark green head and neck with white cheek patch; dark back; white underparts; flanks gray-green with fine barring. Females duller with brown cap and white face. White wing …
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.
Green Pygmy-goose
A tiny dark-green duck with pale spotted underparts, a dark cap, and a short stout bill. Endemic to New Guinea and northern Australia. Found on water-lily-covered billabongs and lakes. Feeds by snatching seeds and petals of aquatic plants from the surface.