ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Mute Swan

Mute Swan

Mute swans are a European introduction, brought over to beautify ornamental ponds. They have escaped to the wild, and feral populations are expanding, causing increasing problems as these swans are aggressive and can displace native waterfowl.

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Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

At-a-Glance

• Peak Breeding Activity: March-April

• Incubation: 36-38 days

• Clutch Size: 5-7 eggs

• Young Fledge: 60 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: aquatic vegetation, aquatic insects, fish, and frogs

Description
These swans are easily recognized by their white bodies and orange bill with a black knob at the base. Mute swans hold their necks in an S-curve.

Habitat and Habits
Mute swans can be found in and around ponds, lakes, and marshes. These birds are not actually soundless as the name implies; they can deliver a variety of hisses, bugles, and other sounds. They also produce loud humming sounds from their primary flight feathers while on the wing, unlike our other swans.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Nests are large mounds of aquatic vegetation, lined with feathers and down, and placed in swampy areas above the water. The young are precocial and able to leave the nest one day after hatching. Both parents care for the young.