Mute Swan vs King Eider
Cygnus olor 对比 Somateria spectabilis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 属性 | Mute Swan | King Eider |
|---|---|---|
| 学名 | Cygnus olor | Somateria spectabilis |
| 目 | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| 科 | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| 保护状况 | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| 体长 | 152.0 cm (59.8 in) | — |
| 翼展 | 235.0 cm (92.5 in) | 53.3 cm (21.0 in) |
| 体重 | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) | 1507.5 g (53.18 oz) |
| 食性 | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Dives for sea urchins, molluscs, and crustaceans in Arctic coastal waters. Shifts to freshwater invertebrates … |
| 产卵数 | 5-7 | 1-16 |
| 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
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.
King Eider
Male produces a melodious, ascending ooo-wuh cooing; female gives a guttural grunt. The male's haunting, dove-like call is one of the most atmospheric sounds of the High Arctic in spring.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
King Eider
Circumpolar High Arctic breeder in North America, Greenland, Svalbard, and Russia. Winters at sea in the North Atlantic and Bering Sea.
保护状况
Mute Swan
King Eider
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
King Eider
Male has bluish-grey crown, pale greenish cheeks, vivid orange-red frontal shield, black back and wings, and white breast patch. Female is warm rufous-brown with dark crescentic barring throughout.
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.
King Eider
王绒鸭是北极的大型海鸭，雄鸟嘴基有橙红色大肉瘤，头部具复杂的白色、蓝色和绿色图案，体羽黑白相间，极为华丽；雌鸟棕褐色。繁殖于北极苔原，越冬于阿拉斯加和加拿大北部沿海。善深潜，以贻贝和甲壳类为食，常结大群在北极海面越冬。