A quest

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

Mute swans are one of about six species of swans in the world. They are majestic animals, revered in Europe for their beauty and long history there. Yet, mute swans also are big and aggressive, which leads them to have few predators and to be viewed as a nuisance in some areas. While they are native to Europe, they were introduced to North America in the 1800s and have spread throughout the northeast.

What do mute swans look like? Weighing 25-30 pounds, they are fairly large birds with up to a seven foot wingspan. They have long necks and orange bills with black knobs. They often swim with their wings slightly upraised. Males and females look the same, but young are brownish and the bill lacks the knob.

Are they really mute? No, they do make a muffled trumpet sound and their wing beats can be heard from a long way away, but they are quieter than other swans native to the U.S.

Are they nocturnal? No they are diurnal and mostly active during the day. They can sleep either on land or in the water.

What are baby mute swans called? Cygnets

What does a mute swan family look like? Swans pair up and in the spring, the mother swan lays between usually 5-7 eggs in a nest comprised of vegetation and grasses on the ground. A little over a month later, the eggs hatch. The cygnets are born able to swim and feed and will leave the nest within 24 hours to head to the water (the dads will sometimes take first born young while the mom continues to incubate remaining eggs). The babies can fly in about 60 days, but they stay with their parents until the next year, when they join groups of other ‘teenage’ swans. They can have babies of their own by their third year of life.

How long do they live? 20 to 30 years

Do they migrate? No, although they will move around between bodies of water. In the winter, they tend to gather in large concentrations in areas with open water.

View mute swans in action.

Are they endangered? No, their IUCN status is least concern with an increasing population estimated to be around 600,000.

What else is interesting about this animal? While flying, mute swans can keep up with you driving down a highway: Top flight speed is 50 to 55 miles per hour.

Where can I find out more about mute swans? Check out the Audubon Society’s mute swan page for more details.