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

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  Egg of mute swan.

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  Swan couple in eaten by aquatic plants.

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  Scared mute swans take off.

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  A pair of mute swans grooming.

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  Mute swans with cygnets.

• Sound from wingbeats.

Mute Swan Media

• 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

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  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.

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

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  Nesting in spring, Cologne, Germany

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  A female mute swan carrying three cygnets between its wings

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  Nest of a mute swan, Sweden

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

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

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  Mute swans with cygnets in Wolvercote, Oxfordshire, U.K.

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  An older mute swan cygnet in Haut-Rhin, France, showing developing adult plumage and developed flight feathers on wings