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Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) — photo 1 of 3
© Giles Laurent CC BY-SA 4.0

Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

Year-round

Voice

Call

Sonothèque ADVL

0:09

Alarm

Sonothèque ADVL

0:06

Call

Sonothèque ADVL

0:55

How to recognize it

  • Large all-white swan with a very long neck and long body

  • Orange-red bill with a black knob at the base

  • Often holds the neck in an S-curve, wings sometimes slightly raised

  • Usually quiet; hisses when disturbed

About the species

Mute Swans usually move with a slow, deliberate glide, but they can turn sharp and quick when guarding a nest. Their name comes from their quieter voice — mainly hissing, grunting, and hoarse whistles — though in flight the wings make a strong throbbing sound that carries a long way.

They are strongly territorial and often keep to one pair on a small lake, raising their young close to the nest. When threatened, they hiss first, then may strike with the wings and bill. Young swans stay with the parents for months and can ride on an adult’s back when tired.

Look for them on larger lakes, slow water, ponds, and park waters with plenty of plants. They feed by reaching under the surface for aquatic vegetation and also graze on land, taking grasses and crops; small aquatic animals are part of the diet too. In northern parts of their range, they move seasonally, while many stay put through the year.

Did you know?

  • World's heaviest flying bird

    The Mute Swan is the heaviest flying bird in the world, with wild Polish males weighing up to 22.5 kg and laying the largest eggs of any wildfowl at about 340 g.

  • Thirty percent skip the season

    Up to 30 percent of territory-holding Mute Swan pairs choose not to breed in any given year — 'skipping' a season may spare them the cost of reproduction and raise their chances of survival and future breeding success.

  • More neck bones than a giraffe

    The Mute Swan's neck contains 25 cervical vertebrae — more than any other animal, even the giraffe — giving it the reach to graze submerged plants at depths of 0.5–1.2 m.

Where to find

  • Along quiet pond edges, canals, and sheltered inlets with reeds — especially early in the morning, when Mute Swan feeds by dipping its long neck under the surface.

  • In mature city parks with big old trees and broad water — look for a pair holding territory, with hissing and wing-spreading if approached.

  • On grassy banks and lawns beside the water — it grazes in short, deliberate pecks, sometimes coming fully onto land to feed.

  • Near bridges, embankments, and stone parapets — the white shape on the water is hard to miss, and a short hop can end with a loud wingbeat.

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Sources