"Mute Swan" (Cygnus olor)

"male"

"female"

"juvenile"

	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Mute Swan "family" Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Mute Swan and cygnet Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Mute Swan "face" Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Can you hear and feel the "hiss"? Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost Mute Swan "display"
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost Mute Swan "family"
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Mute Swan "grooming" Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost "angry" Mute Swan
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	"Mute Swan Juvenile" Photograph by © Ian Gereg
	Photograph by © Chris Griffin

Mute Swans are very large, long-necked waterfowl. Mute Swans are often silent, although they sometimes hiss or grunt. When flying, its wingbeats produce a loud rhythmic hum. It has white plumage, a long pointed tail and a very long slender neck, which it tends to hold in an S-curve. Its bill is orange with a prominent black knob at the base and it quite often swims with its wings held up over its back in an arch.


Size: 60" length

Male & Female: Body white; bill pink to orange with black knob at base. Swims wiht unique posture of neck in an S-curve and often with wings slightly raised over back.

Immature: Light brownish with an all dark bill. Immature plumage kept 1 year.

Nest: Large mass of plant material.

Eggs: 4-6

Incubation: 34-38 days; female incubates.

Food: Aquatic plants

Voice: Usually silent.

Habitat: Ponds, lakes, parks, coastal bays.

In Flight: Its wings make a repeated droning sound...whereas other swans have quiet wingbeats.





My personal notes...
Mute swans are huge, yet so graceful. So beautiful to watch them swim, holding their wings up over its back in an arch. I found it interesting to see hold a swan holds its wings up high to look larger when it feels threatened...it puts its head down like a missile being launced at a target and charges. A loud hiss/spit sound...like a cat does is also dispersed at the targeted enemy. They seem to be quite territorial. It's intersting to watch them carry their babies on their backs while swimming.





More "Mute Swan" Information:
"Mute Swan"





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