Mute Swan
Scientific Classification
Mute Swans are large, elegant waterfowl with long, curved necks and white plumage. Their neck is often held in a graceful "S" shape. Adults have bright orange bills with a prominent black knob at the base, and black legs and feet. Males are slightly larger than females, standing 125–170 cm long with wingspans of 200–240 cm. They typically weigh between 9–14 kg, although exceptionally large individuals may exceed 15 kg. Juveniles known as cygnets are grey or brown before they moult into their adult white plumage by the end of their first year.
They are native to Europe and Asia but have been introduced to parts of Canada and the United States. In Canada, feral populations are established in southern Ontario and British, in sheltered coastal areas often near human settlements such as ponds, lakes, and estuaries. They prefer shallow freshwater or brackish wetlands with abundant submerged vegetation and low human disturbance, though they are highly tolerant of urban areas with public feeding.
They are herbivorous grazers, primarily feeding on submerged aquatic vegetation, which they reach by tipping their bodies forward in the water. Their diet includes pondweed, wild celery, algae, eelgrass, and other water plants. They may also eat small aquatic invertebrates incidentally while foraging. On land, they graze grasses and crops like clover and winter wheat. In urban areas, they may become habituated to being fed by people, which can lead to poor nutrition or dependency on handouts.
Monogamous pairs begin nesting in early spring from April–May, building large mound-like nests from reeds, grasses, and twigs near the water’s edge. Females lay 4–7 eggs, which they incubate for 35–41 days, while the males guard the territory. Cygnets are precocial and leave the nest within 24 hours, swimming and feeding under the guidance of both parents. They stay with their parents until late fall or early winter, when they are driven off to find their own territories. They reach sexual maturity at 2–4 years. In the wild, they typically live 10–15 years, but in captivity or protected settings, they may live up to 30 years. The oldest known Mute Swan lived to be 40 years old in the wild.
Mute Swans are well adapted for aquatic life, with long necks that allow them to feed on submerged vegetation in deep water. Their large, webbed feet make them strong swimmers, and their size deters most predators. Although heavy, they are powerful flyers and require a long runway on the water to take off. Their aggressive territorial behaviour during breeding season helps protect eggs and cygnets from predators like raccoons, gulls, or foxes. They also display threat postures by arching their wings over their backs, and hissing loudly to intimidate intruders
