Surf Scoter vs Mute Swan
Melanitta perspicillata comparado com Cygnus olor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Surf Scoter | Mute Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Melanitta perspicillata | Cygnus olor |
| Ordem | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Família | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Estado de conservação | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | — | 152,0 cm (59.8 in) |
| Envergadura | 45,3 cm (17.8 in) | 235,0 cm (92.5 in) |
| Peso | 1019,75 g (35.97 oz) | 11000,0 g (388.01 oz) |
| Dieta | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and herring spawn in coastal waters. Uses its distinctive swollen bill … | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … |
| Tamanho da postura | 5-9 | 5-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Song & Call Comparison
Surf Scoter
Male produces a low, gurgling burble; female gives a crow-like, guttural cawing. The female's rasping, crow-like call is startling; males make soft, liquid gurgling notes during courtship.
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
Surf Scoter
Breeds in boreal forests and tundra of northern North America. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to Baja California and the Carolinas.
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Estado de conservação
Surf Scoter
Mute Swan
How to Tell Them Apart
Surf Scoter
Male is entirely glossy black except for white patches on forehead and nape; bill tricolored orange, red, and white with black spot. Female sooty-brown with two white facial patches.
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
Surf Scoter
O pato-fusco-americano é um grande pato marinho com o bico mais colorido e elaborado dos patos negros. Os machos têm plumagem preta com remendo branco no nuca e bico multicolorido com tubérculo. Cria em lagos e pântanos florestais do norte da América do Norte e Sibéria. Hiberna principalmente em costas marinhas ao longo das costas norte-americanas. As populações têm diminuído nalgumas regiões, levantando preocupações de conservação.
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.