Mute Swan vs Polar bear

Cygnus olor compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

  • Mute Swan is Near Threatened while Polar bear is Vulnerable.
  • Mute Swan is herbivore while Polar bear is carnivore.
  • Polar bear is 37.5x heavier than Mute Swan.
  • Polar bear lives longer (25 years vs 20 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Mute Swan Polar bear
Kingdom same Animalia (สัตว์) Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง) Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class Aves (นก) Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order Anseriformes (อันดับห่าน) Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)
Family Anatidae Ursidae (Bears)
Genus Cygnus Ursus (Bears)
Species Cygnus olor Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

Mute Swan and Polar bear share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)

Conservation Status

Mute Swan

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~600.0K

Trend: Increasing ↑

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Mute Swan Polar bear
Diet Herbivore Carnivore
Average Lifespan 20 years 25 years
Average Length 1.5 m 2.4 m
Average Weight 12.0 kg 450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Mute Swan

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, tundra, and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, among 8 distinct biome types.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (4 countries), Europe (24 countries), North America (Canada, Dominican Republic, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand), and South America (Colombia, Peru). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Mute Swan

The most commonly encountered swan globally and one of the largest flying birds, mute swans weigh up to 15 kg and inhabit lakes, rivers, and coastal bays across Europe and Asia, with widespread introduced populations in North America and Australia. Despite their name, mute swans produce a range of hissing, grunting, and wing-whistling sounds. Males aggressively defend territories and are capable of injuring humans and drowning dogs with powerful wing strikes.

Polar bear

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

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