Mute Swan vs Silver Teal
Cygnus olor comparé à Spatula versicolor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Mute Swan | Silver Teal |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Cygnus olor | Spatula versicolor |
| 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) | 37,0 cm (14.6 in) |
| Poids | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) | 409,75 g (14.45 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Dabbles for seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; diet varies with season; forages in shallow ponds … |
| Taille de la couvée | 5-7 | 6-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Silver Teal
Freshwater wetlands, marshes, lakes, and flooded fields from sea level to 3,500 m in southern South America from Peru and Bolivia through Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.
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.
Silver Teal
Male produces a soft, nasal prrp note; female gives a subdued quack. Quiet vocalizations suit the species' secretive nature in South American reedy marshes.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Silver Teal
Breeds in sub-Arctic Europe and western Russia; winters on coasts of Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Caspian Sea.
Statut de conservation
Mute Swan
Silver Teal
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
Silver Teal
Black crown contrasting with white face and sides. Body pale silvery-gray with fine dark vermiculations. Bold yellow-and-black bill. Blue-gray forewing and iridescent green speculum in flight. Sexes similar.
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.
Silver Teal
A medium-sized teal with a striking black cap, white face, blue bill with yellow sides, and boldly spotted scaly-looking flanks. Widespread in lowland and mid-altitude South America. Often found in pairs or small groups. Feeds by dabbling in shallow water.