Reunion Shelduck vs Mute Swan
Alopochen kervazoi comparado com Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Reunion Shelduck | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Alopochen kervazoi | Cygnus olor |
| Ordem | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Família | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Estado de conservação | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | — | 152,0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Envergadura | — | 235,0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Peso | — | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Dieta | Extinct Reunion shelduck; likely fed on grasses, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates near coastal wetlands based … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Tamanho da postura | -- | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Reunion Shelduck
Historically restricted to Réunion Island in the Mascarene archipelago. Now extinct; last evidence from early colonial period. Presumably inhabited freshwater wetland habitats on the island.
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Reunion Shelduck
Extinct (EX); no vocalizations recorded. The Reunion Shelduck was exterminated soon after European contact. No contemporary accounts of its call survive in the historical record.
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
Reunion Shelduck
Formerly found across the Pacific from Hawaii to New Zealand. Extinct by the 19th century; survived late on uninhabited islands.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Estado de conservação
Reunion Shelduck
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Reunion Shelduck
Extinct Mascarene species known only from subfossil bones found on Réunion. Plumage unrecorded; presumed similar to Egyptian Goose with brownish-gray tones. Extirpated following European colonization.
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
Reunion Shelduck
An extinct shelduck formerly endemic to Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. Known only from subfossil bones and brief historical records from the 17th century. Went extinct shortly after European colonization. No illustrations or detailed physical description of the living bird is known.
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.