About the Mute Swan
The mute swan is a species of swan and a member of the family Anatidae within the waterfowl order. It is native to much of Europe and parts of Asia and the far north of Africa. It is an introduced species in North America, home to the largest populations outside of its native range, with additional smaller introductions in Australasia and Southern Africa. The name "mute" derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. Typically measuring 140 to 160 cm in length, this large swan is wholly white in plumage, with an orange beak bordered with black. It is recognisable by its pronounced knob atop the beak, which is larger in males.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Adults of this large swan typically range from 140 to 160 cm (55 to 63 in) long, although they can range in extreme cases from 125 to 170 cm (49 to 67 in), with a 200 to 240 cm (79 to 94 in) wingspan. Males are larger than females and have a larger knob on their bill. On average, this is the second largest waterfowl species after the trumpeter swan, although male mute swans can easily match or even exceed a male trumpeter in mass. Among standard measurements of the mute swan, the wing chord measures 53–62.3 cm (20.9–24.5 in), the tarsus is 10–11.8 cm (3.9–4.6 in), and the bill is 6.9–9 cm (2.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Mute Swan sounds like
Where the Mute Swan lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in India, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, Armenia, North Korea, Oman, Turkmenistan, Guernsey, Kosovo.
When to see the Mute Swan
Peak activity in May · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusThe whooper swan is similar in appearance to Bewick's swan.
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorThe trumpeter swan is the largest extant species of waterfowl, and both the heaviest and longest native bird of North America.
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusC. columbianus is the smallest of the Holarctic swans, at 115–150 cm (45–59 in) in length, 168–211 cm (66–83 in) in wingspan and a weight range of 3.4–9.6 kg (7.5–21.2 lb).
Side by side: Mute Swan vs Whooper Swan · Mute Swan vs Trumpeter Swan · Mute Swan vs Tundra Swan
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