Mute Swan

Overview

The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a large waterfowl native to much of Europe and parts of Asia, classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It has become an introduced species in North America, where it now maintains the largest populations outside of its native range.

Identification

• Wholly white plumage, with feathers on the head and neck often stained orange-brown by iron and tannins in the water.
• Bright orange beak with black around the nostrils and a black nail, featuring a pronounced knob atop the bill that is larger in males.
• Dark grey legs and large size, typically measuring 140 to 160 cm in length with a 200 to 240 cm wingspan.
• Less vocal than other swans, producing grunting, hoarse whistling, and snorting noises, with a distinctive vibrant throbbing of the wings during flight.

Habitat

Mute swans generally inhabit various freshwater areas such as lagoons, lakes, and slow-flowing rivers, with a preference for medium to larger-sized bodies of water. They are native to temperate areas of Europe and across the Palearctic, extending as far east as Primorsky Krai.

Diet

They feed on a wide range of vegetation by reaching submerged aquatic plants with their long necks and grazing on land, including agricultural crops like oilseed rape and wheat. Mute swans also consume small proportions of aquatic insects, fish, and frogs.

Did you know?

The species' name derives from it being less vocal than other swan species, yet the vibrant throbbing of their wings in flight can be heard from a distance of 1 to 2 km.