Species:

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

Change species:
Main Images:
Next species:
Length (cm):
61-67
145-160
Wingspan (cm):
0-0
208-238
Weight (gram):
925-1600
7000-14000
Size group:
Crow-size
Bigger than a crow
Main Texts:
Appearance:

May only be confused with Egyptian Goose, but differs in short, dark legs, dark bill, thicker neck, rufous belly and lack of eye-patch. Black and white wings conspicuous in flight as in Egyptian Goose, but lacks thin, black stripe at rear of white coverts. Sexes quite similar. Male with ringed neck in breeding plumage, and female with more contrasting facial pattern. Immature similar to female, but with "dirty" white wing-patches. Less dependent on water than most other ducks.

Sound:

Distinct voice and quite vocal. Nasal, trumpeting, donkey-like calls, often drawn out to a rattling, trill (Chewbacca of Star Wars). Male higher pitched than female.

Call/song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Hans Matheve, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Big and white waterfowl with orange bill and black knob at base of bill. Juveniles more greyish and differs from juvenile Whoopers by all grey bill and black lores. Neck usually held more S-shaped than other swans when swimming. Long tail prominent when upending.

Sound:

Silent compared to other swans. A repertoire of snorting, grunting and hissing sound when interacting. No far carrying sounds. Wings produce prominent singing sound which may function as a flight contact-call.

Social sounds:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Peter Boesman, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Duck-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file