Photo: Geni / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults measure 150.0 cm and weigh 10.7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Cygnus
- Species olor
Quick facts
- Size
- 150.0 cm
- Weight
- 10.7 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look alike (all-white with an orange bill and black basal knob); the male (cob) averages larger with a noticeably bigger bill knob, especially in the breeding season.
Juvenile appearance
Cygnets are grey-brown (occasionally a white 'Polish'/leucistic morph) with a dull grey-black bill for the first year.
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mute Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Mute Swan is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL Europe to c Asia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 10.7 kg and measures about 150.0 cm in length, with a wing length of about 58.2 cm and a tail of around 19.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mute Swan?
The Mute Swan is a very large bird that weighs around 10.7 kg and measures about 150.0 cm.
Where does the Mute Swan live?
The Mute Swan is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL Europe to c Asia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Mute Swan belong to?
The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Mute Swan eat?
The Mute Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Mute Swan migrate?
The Mute Swan is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Mute Swan endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Mute Swan make?
4 real field recordings of the Mute Swan — including its call and flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mute Swan's range?
The Mute Swan has a mapped global range of about 4.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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