Mute Swan
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Cygnus olor
Population size
500,000
Life Span
19-40 years
Top speed
80
50
km/hmph
km/h mph 
Weight
6.5-13
14.3-28.6
kglbs
kg lbs 
Length
140-160
55.1-63
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
3
8
mft
m ft 

The Mute swan (Cygnus olor) is known as an integral feature of urban parks as well as most of the waterways in our regions. But originally this beautiful white bird was a wild animal, not always with compatible behavior and habits for life in city parks. It is also amongst the heaviest of the world's flying birds.

Di

Diurnal

He

Herbivore

Gr

Granivore

Fo

Folivore

Gr

Graminivore

Se

Semiaquatic

Pr

Precocial

Wa

Waterfowl

Na

Natatorial

Te

Territorial

Co

Congregatory

Ov

Oviparous

Gr

Grazing

Br

Browsing

Se

Serial monogamy

So

Social

Fl

Flocking

Co

Colonial

Pa

Partial Migrant

M

starts with

Sn

Snow White
(collection)

Appearance

The plumage of Mute swans is white, while the legs are dark grey. The beak is bright orange, with black around the nostrils and a black nail. Males are larger than females and have a larger knob on their bills. Young birds (cygnets) are not the bright white of mature adults, and their bill is dull greyish-black, not orange, for the first year. The down may range from pure white to grey to buff, with grey/buff the most common. The cygnets grow quickly, reaching a size close to their adult size in approximately 3 months after hatching. Cygnets typically retain their grey feathers until they are at least one year old, with the down on their wings having been replaced by flight feathers earlier that year. All Mute swans are white at maturity, though the feathers (particularly on the head and neck) are often stained orange-brown by iron and tannins in the water.

Video

Climate zones

Mute Swan habitat map
Mute Swan
Public Domain Dedication (CC0)

Habits and Lifestyle

Mute swans are usually very territorial with just a single pair on smaller lakes, though in a few locations where a large area of suitable feeding habitat is found, they can be colonial. Non-mated juveniles up to 3-4 years old commonly form larger flocks, which can total several hundred birds, often at regular traditional sites. Once the adult birds are mated they seek out their own territories and often live close to ducks and gulls. Mute swans feed during the daytime, by dabbling on the water surface and upending. While swimming they hold their neck with a graceful curve, the bill pointing downward. Mute swans are not very vocal but they do make a variety of sounds, often described as "grunting, hoarse whistling, and snorting noises." During a courtship display, they utter a rhythmic song. Mute swans usually hiss at competitors or intruders trying to enter their territory. The most familiar sound of these birds is the vibrant throbbing of the wings in flight which is unique to the species and can be heard from a range of 1 to 2 km (0.6 to 1 mi), indicating its value as a contact sound between birds in flight. Cygnets are especially vocal and communicate through a variety of whistling and chirping sounds when content, as well as a harsh squawking noise when distressed or lost. Mute swans can be very aggressive in defense of their nests and are highly protective of their mate and offspring. Most defensive acts begin with a loud hiss and, if this is not sufficient to drive off the predator or intruder, are followed by a physical attack. Swans attack by striking at the threat with bony spurs in their wings, accompanied by biting with their large bill.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Mute swans are mainly herbivores. They feed on a wide range of vegetation, both submerged aquatic plants which they reach with their long necks, and by grazing on land. The food commonly includes agricultural crop plants such as oilseed rape and wheat. They will also feed on small proportions of aquatic insects, fish, and frogs.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
March-April
INCUBATION PERIOD
36-38 days
INDEPENDENT AGE
1 year
FEMALE NAME
pen
MALE NAME
cob
BABY NAME
cygnet
web.animal_clutch_size
5-12 eggs

Mute swans are serially monogamous and remain together for at least one season. Males may, however, have four mates, and even "divorce" to have another female. Mute swans nest on large mounds that they build with waterside vegetation in shallow water on islands in the middle or at the very edge of a lake. They often reuse the same nest each year, restoring or rebuilding it as needed. Male and female swans share the care of the nest. The breeding starts in March or early April. Nest building is done by both parents, with the male bringing the nest material to the female. Females lay 5 to 12 eggs, and incubation lasts around 36-38 days, which is done mainly by the female while her mate defends the territory. The cygnets hatch over a period of 26 hours and both parents look after the young. The female broods the cygnets and they often ride on their mother's back from the age of 10 days. Two months after hatching the young are fully feathered. They stay with their parents until the following spring and breeding season. At 3 years of age, they become reproductively mature and start to breed.

Population

Population threats

The main threat currently to these swans is lead poisoning in ponds and lakes.

Population number

According to Wikipedia, the total native population of these swans is about 500,000 individuals (adults and young), of which 350,000 live in the former Soviet Union. 11,000 pairs of birds in the Volga Delta is the largest breeding concentration in the world. In the United Kingdom, the population is about 22,000 birds. In introduced areas populations remain small: there are about 200 swans in Japan, New Zealand, and Australia have fewer than 200, and in South Africa, there are about 120 swans. Currently, Mute swans are classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN list of threatened species and their numbers today are increasing.

Ecological niche

Mute swans affect aquatic vegetation communities as a result of their grazing. A study in Maryland found swans eat as much as 8 pounds a day of underwater aquatic vegetation, removing habitat and food for other species more quickly than these grasses could recover.

Domestication

For many centuries, in Britain Mute swans were domesticated for food, individuals being marked by nicks in their webbed feet or their beaks to indicate ownership. Such marks became registered with the Crown; also the appointment was made of a Royal Swanherd. Any birds without these marks became Crown property, thus the swan was known by the name of the "Royal Bird". Quite possibly this domestication prevented the swan in Britain from being hunted until extinction. Feathers were used for writing quills, purses were made out of the leathery web, and whistles were made from the wing bones.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • The name “mute” comes from the fact that these swans are quiet during flight or communicate with grunts and barks.
  • The feathers of Mute swans used to be used for writing. These feathers were called pen quills, then quill pens, and then just "pen". Hence the present day ball pen is named after the feathers of the female swan.
  • The Mute swan has about 25,000 feathers.
  • During the breeding season the black ridge at the base of the bill of the male Mute swan swells and becomes much larger than that of the female. The rest of the time the difference between the male and the female is not obvious.
  • Once swans scare off any other birds, they call to each other and flap their wings in celebration - like a swan high-five.
  • The queen in England owns all the Mute swans. Each year the Thames River swans are rounded up and their beaks given the mark of the queen’s brand. Sometimes the queen will give a swan as a special gift.

Coloring Pages

References

1. Mute Swan Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_swan
2. Mute Swan on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22679839/0
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/706778
4. Video creator - https://avibirds.com

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