Black Swan vs White-backed Duck

Cygnus atratus 对比 Thalassornis leuconotus

Side-by-Side Comparison

属性 Black Swan White-backed Duck
学名 Cygnus atratus Thalassornis leuconotus
Anseriformes Anseriformes
Anatidae Anatidae
保护状况 Least Concern Least Concern
体长 130.0 cm (51.2 in)
翼展 190.0 cm (74.8 in) 33.3 cm (13.1 in)
体重 6200.0 g (218.70 oz) 704.6666666666666 g (24.86 oz)
食性 Aquatic vegetation and algae, supplemented with grain and pasture grasses. Feeds by upending in shallow … --
产卵数 4-6 4-10
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Black Swan 130.0 cm
White-backed Duck
翼展
Black Swan 190.0 cm
White-backed Duck 33.3 cm
体重
Black Swan 6200.0 g
White-backed Duck 704.6666666666666 g

Habitat Comparison

共同栖息地

Black Swan only

White-backed Duck only

Black Swan

Lakes, rivers, swamps, and coastal waters across Australia. Also found in ornamental lakes in parks.

White-backed Duck

Freshwater lakes, ponds, and swamps with abundant floating aquatic vegetation, especially water lilies, in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Prefers shallow sheltered water with emergent vegetation for cover.

Song & Call Comparison

Black Swan

鸣唱

Gives a musical bugling 'boo-boo-boo' in flight and softer honking on water. Less vocal than Mute Swan; produces a baying call when alarmed. Wings whistle softly in flight.

White-backed Duck

鸣唱

Soft, low whistles and hissing sounds. The White-backed Duck is relatively quiet compared to whistling-ducks. Alarm call is a low 'peep'. Mostly heard at night.

Geographic Range & Migration

Black Swan

Australia, primarily in the southeast and southwest. Introduced populations in New Zealand, Japan, and western Europe.

White-backed Duck

保护状况

Least Concern

Black Swan

Least Concern

White-backed Duck

How to Tell Them Apart

Black Swan

羽毛

Almost entirely black with white flight feathers visible in flight. Red bill with a white band near the tip. Dark red to reddish-brown iris.

Bright red bill with a pale tip and prominent white band

White-backed Duck

羽毛

Heavily mottled and barred brown and buff overall. Diagnostic white back patch visible in flight. Head brown with whitish face and chin. Stiff tail held erect. Sexes similar; stiff-tail diving …

About These Birds

Black Swan

The black swan was once considered impossible by Europeans who believed all swans were white, making it a famous philosophical example of inductive reasoning failure. It is the state emblem of Western Australia. Black swans form lifelong pair bonds and both parents share in incubation and care of cygnets.

White-backed Duck

白背硬尾鸭是非洲唯一的硬尾鸭,主要分布于撒哈拉以南非洲的湖泊和沼泽,以及马达加斯加。体型小,体羽以棕褐色为主,背部白色斑块在飞行时可见,尾羽刚硬。善深潜,主要以睡莲种子和其他水生植物为食。栖息于富有植被的淡水湿地,被列为近危物种。

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