Mute swan

The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a species of swan, and thus a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa.

Mute swan
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Subfamily:	Anserinae
Tribe:	Cygnini
Genus:	Cygnus
Species:	C. olor
Binomial name
Cygnus olor (Gmelin, 1789)

Description

Measuring 125 to 170 centimetres (49 to 67 in) in length, this large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange bill bordered with black. It is recognisable by its pronounced knob atop the bill.

When swimming, the mute swan holds its neck in a graceful "S" curve with its bill pointing downward. The whooper swans usually carry their bill level with their neck erect. The male frequently arches his secondary wing feathers over his back in an aggressive display posture.

Gallery

• Cygnus olor MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.11.2.jpg

  Egg of mute swan.

• Schwanenpaar (1) beim Gründeln mit Jungen im Sonnensee, Binsfeld.JPG

  Swan couple in eaten by aquatic plants.

• Knölsvan (Cygnus olor) Ystad-2016.jpg

  Scared mute swans take off.

• A pair of mute swans grooming.

• Mute swans (Cygnus olor) and cygnets.jpg

  Mute swans with cygnets.

• Cygnus olor - Mute Swan XC434964.mp3

  Sound from wingbeats.

Mute Swan Media

• Cygnus olor - Mute Swan XC434964.mp3

  Only wingbeats of 2-3 birds at night*bird-seen:no*playback-used:no*Common name: Mute Swan*Type: wingbeats*Genus: Cygnus*Species: olor*Location: Arnhem, Arnhem, Gelderland*Country: Netherlands*Elevation: 10 m

• Cygnus olor ML0002.jpg

  Two mute swan cygnets a few weeks old. The cygnet on the right is of the "Polish swan" colour morph, and carries a gene responsible for leucism.

• Drilon, Pogradec (17).jpg

  Nest in Drilon National Park, Pogradec, Albania. The cob (male) is patrolling the area close to the nest to protect his mate.

• Mute Swan, 4127 Birsfelden, Switzerland imported from iNaturalist photo 113908808 (cropped).jpg

  Photo of Mute Swan uploaded from iNaturalist.

• Hoeckerschwan Bluecherpark Köln Gelege.jpg

  Nesting in spring, Cologne, Germany

• 20090512 Trezzo 7667 1024x768.jpg

  A female mute swan carrying three cygnets between its wings

• Birds of Sweden 2016 13.jpg

  Nest of a mute swan, Sweden

• DayOldCygnets.jpg

  Cygnets captured one day after they hatched. Newburgh Lake, Livonia, Michigan, U.S.

• ThreeDayOldCygnet.jpg

  From what I could tell this is the Cygnet's first entry into the waters on the morning three days after it hatched