Mute Swan vs Northern Shoveler
Cygnus olor 对比 Spatula clypeata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 属性 | Mute Swan | Northern Shoveler |
|---|---|---|
| 学名 | Cygnus olor | Spatula clypeata |
| 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) | 45.3 cm (17.8 in) |
| 体重 | 11000.0 g (388.01 oz) | 631.5 g (22.28 oz) |
| 食性 | Submerged aquatic vegetation, algae, and grass. Feeds by upending in shallow water, reaching depths of … | Eats seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; dabbles in wetlands; broadly omnivorous diet shifts with season … |
| 产卵数 | 5-7 | 5-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mute Swan
Lakes, slow rivers, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Often associated with parks and ornamental waters in Europe.
Northern Shoveler
Breeds on freshwater prairie ponds, marshes, and lake margins across Eurasia and North America. Winters on coastal lagoons, estuaries, freshwater lakes, and rice paddies in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
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.
Northern Shoveler
Male gives a low, hollow took-took call; female produces a laughing, descending quacking series. Courtship includes head-bobbing displays accompanied by quiet nasal grunting calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mute Swan
Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Northern Shoveler
Breeds across sub-Arctic and boreal Eurasia; winters from the British Isles to China, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
保护状况
Mute Swan
Northern Shoveler
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
Northern Shoveler
Breeding males have iridescent green head, white breast, and rufous-chestnut flanks. Yellow eye. Pale blue forewing and green speculum. Females mottled brown. Massive spatulate bill unique among ducks. Dimorphic.
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.
Northern Shoveler
北方琵嘴鸭以其特化的大型匙状宽嘴著称,是北温带最知名的水面鸭之一。广泛繁殖于欧亚和北美北部,越冬于南欧、非洲、中东和亚洲南部。雄鸟头部深绿色,胸部白色,体侧栗红色;雌鸟褐色。通过宽嘴在水面过滤浮游生物、甲壳类和植物碎屑为食,是独特的滤食者。