Differences between swans, ducks and geese

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 21 January 2021
Update Date: 7 November 2024
Anonim
The Difference Between Ducks and Geese
Video: The Difference Between Ducks and Geese

Content

Birds have been a group of vertebrates closely related to humans for centuries. Although there have been several controversies regarding their definitive classification, in general, traditional taxonomy considers them to belong to the class Aves. Meanwhile, for the phylogenetic systematics, they are included in the Archosaur clade, which they currently share with the crocodiles.

There are thousands of species of birds, which inhabit countless ecosystems, both terrestrial and aquatic. It is quite common for birds to surprise us with their songs, flight forms and plumage. All these, without a doubt, make them quite impressive animals. However, within this group there is great diversity, which can sometimes cause some confusion as to its identification. That's why in this PeritoAnimal article, we present thedifferences between swans, ducks and geese, different birds that cause admiration for their beauty.


Taxonomy of swans, ducks and geese

How are these birds taxonomically classified? From now on, we will focus on the different characteristics between the swans, ducks and geese. All these birds belong to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae. The differences lie both in the subfamilies in which they are included, as in the genus and species:

geese

the geese belong to subfamily Anserinae and the genus Anser, with eight species and several subspecies. One of the best known is the wild goose or common goose (anser anser). However, there is also another genus with species known as geese, such as Cereopsis, which includes the gray or gray goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae).

Swan

This group corresponds to subfamily Anserinae and the genus Cygnus, in which there are six species and some subspecies. The best known is the white swan (Cygnus olor).


duck

Ducks are generally classified into three groups: the typical, the whistlers and the divers. The former are classified in the subfamily Anatinae, where we find the largest number of genera; some of the best known species are: mandarin duck (Aix galericulata), domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus), wild duck (Cairina moschata), duck in glasses (Speculanas specularis) and paturi-preta, also known as nigga (Netta erythrophthalma).

The latter correspond to the subfamily Dendrocygninae, and some species are the arboreal teal (Dendrocygna arborea), cabocla marreca (Dendrocygna autumnalis) and java teal (Dendrocygna javanica).

The third and last belong to the subfamily Oxyurinae, such as the duck-of-papada (Werewolf biziura), black-headed teal (Heteronetta atricapilla) and cocoa teal (Nomonyx dominicus).


Do you want to know more species of ducks? Don't miss our article on the types of ducks and find out how many there are.

Physical differences between swans, ducks and geese

The anatidae birds, which are swans, ducks and geese, among others, share as a common characteristic living associated with water bodies, however, each group has anatomical characteristics that differentiate them. To distinguish a goose, swan or duck, the main thing we can consider is size, being the biggest swans of all. Second, there are geese, and lastly, ducks. Another practically infallible feature is the neck, and in this sense we have, from the longest to the shortest, first the swan, then the goose and lastly the duck.

Let's get to know these distinguishing features:

Physical characteristics of the goose

Geese are, in general, large water and migratory birds, the largest and most robust being the wild goose or common goose, which can weigh about 4.5 kg and measure up to 180 cm, relying on the wingspan. The color varies according to the species, so we find white, gray, brown and even mixed colors.

Their beaks are big, usually orange in color, as well as your legs. Although there are certain exceptions, these latter members are adapted for swimming.

Among the three species of birds that we compare in this article, we can say that the goose has an intermediate-sized neck, large compared to the duck, but smaller than that of the swan. Furthermore, they are birds with an energetic flight.

Swan Physical Characteristics

The most striking feature of the swans is their long neck. Most species are white, but there is also one black and one of white body, but with black neck and head. These birds are characterized by being quite large, and depending on the species, their weight can vary between about 6 kg to 15 kg. All swans have lengths exceeding one meter; An adult swan can reach a wingspan of up to 3 meters.

There is usually no sexual dimorphism, but eventually the male can be slightly larger than the female. The beaks are robust, orange, black or combinations, depending on the species. The feet are joined by a membrane that allows them to swim.

Physical characteristics of the duck

Ducks exhibit the greatest variety of plumage colorations. We can find species of one or two shades, but there are also many with combinations of various colors. They are distinguished from geese and swans by being the smallest between the three birds, with shorter wings and neck, and generally robust bodies. There are species with marked sexual dimorphism.

They usually do not exceed 6 kg in weight and 80 cm of lenght. They are birds adapted for swimming and traveling long distances. Also, their beaks are flat.

Habitat of swans, ducks and geese

These birds have a wide distribution worldwide, on the one hand due to migratory habits, and on the other hand, because several species have been domesticated and maintain a close relationship with people.

You geese inhabit almost all of Europe, much of the Asia, America from the North and North Africa. In turn, the swans are spread over several regions of the America, Europe, Asia and Australia. already the Ducks are scattered in all continents, except at the poles.

It is important to remember that it is currently possible to find these birds in regions to which they are not originally native, as they were introduced in an anthropogenic way.

Get all the details about migratory birds and their characteristics in this other article on migratory birds.

Behavior of swans, ducks and geese

In their customs and behavioral characteristics, we can also find notable differences between ducks, geese and swans. Let's see them:

goose behavior

Geese are gregarious birds, whose collective flight has a peculiar formation in ’v’. are usually animals very territorial, capable of defending their space quite aggressively emitting particularly loud sounds. In the case of domesticated individuals, they may behave more sociably. Geese make a type of sound known as croak.

Swan behavior

In swans we can find different behaviors, such as the black swan, a bird sociable and not migratory, while the white swan, on the contrary, is quite territorial and can live in couples or form large colonies. It can also live with other birds that it tolerates nearby. Depending on the species, some swans may be more vocal than others, but they generally express a variety of sounds that are heard as whistles, snorts or species of grunts.

duck behavior

Ducks, on the other hand, can show different types of behavior according to the species. Some tend to live in couples, while others in small groups. Various species can be timid and territorial, while others allow a certain approximation, for example, to people, to the point of living in ponds or artificial water bodies. the ducks emit short dry sounds, which are seen as a nasal "quack".

Reproduction of swans, ducks and geese

The forms of reproduction among swans, ducks and geese vary according to the group. To understand them, let's learn how they reproduce:

goose reproduction

the geese have a life partner and spend most of the year together, only replacing their partner in case of death. The common goose, for example, usually makes nests in the ground close to the water bodies where it lives and, although nest in groups, establish a certain distance from each other. they put about 6 eggs, white and almost elliptical, only once a year, and although the male remains around, the eggs are hatched only by the female.

Swan reproduction

The swans also have a partner for all life and build the biggest nests of the group, which can measure up to 2 meters in floating formations or near water. They can nest in small or large groups, close to each other. Although it is usually the female that hatches the eggs, the male can eventually replace her. Both the number and color of eggs can vary from one species to another, with egg laying varying from one or two up to 10 eggs. Colors vary between the greenish, cream or white.

duck breeding

Ducks have different reproductive forms depending on the species. Some nest near water bodies, while others may nest far away or even in nests built in trees. some put up to 20 eggs, who are sometimes cared for by the mother or both parents. As for the color of the eggs, this also varies, and may be cream, white, gray and even greenish.

Feeding swans, ducks and geese

The goose is a herbivorous animal that it pastes, being able to consume plants, roots and shoots, both in and out of the water. For more information on this type of diet, don't miss this other article on herbivorous animals.

Swans, on the other hand, consume aquatic plants and algae., but also some small animals like frogs and insects.

Lastly, the Ducks feed mainly on plants, fruits and seeds, although they may include insects, larvae and crustaceans in your diet. In the article about what the duck eats, you will find all the details about its feeding.

If you want to read more articles similar to Differences between swans, ducks and geese, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.