The Mute Swan

The Mute Swan is a large swan ranging from 49 to 67 inches in length with a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet. Standing, they are close to 4 feet tall. They are one of the heaviest flying birds in existence with the cob (male) weighing close to 27 pounds and the pen (female) a plump 19 pounds.

Mute Swans are beautiful birds with all white plumage and a bright orange bill. They have distinctive black knobs above the bill, and their necks are long and curved in the classic "S" shape. Juveniles can be distinguished by their grayish bill and their plumage is not as vibrant.

The Mute Swan's natural habitat is the temperate areas of Europe and Asia. It is a migratory bird nesting in the northern areas and moving southward in the winter. In the 1800's it was brought to North America and released in parks and some of the larger estates. Today the Mute Swan can be found throughout North America.

The assumption that the Mute Swan mates for life is incorrect. If a mate is lost, it will join with another or even abandon its mate in favor of another. However, it has been determined that the established pairs are the most successful breeders.

They rarely nest in colonies. When breeding begins, they will build their nest on top of a mound. If they can find a muskrat mound, they will build their nest on top of it. If none is available, they will make a pile of vegetation and build their nest on top of it. The nest is usually lined with feathers and down, and well above the water level.

The pen will lay a clutch of 5 to 12 pale gray eggs and are incubated for 36 to 38 days. Parental responsibilities are shared and when the first eggs hatch, the cob will take the hatchlings to the water while the pen continues to incubate the remaining eggs.

The young are unable to fly for the first 2 months of their life and remain close to their parents. The family unit will usually stay together until the following breeding season. At that point the mated pair will drive the young adults away. The non-breeding cygnets usually join flocks of other non-breeding swans. It will be another 2 years before the cygnet finally bond with a mate and start the process all over again.

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The Mute Swan feeds on aquatic vegetation. Using their long necks to expand their reach, they tear the plants from the bottom of lakes, rivers, and streams. While they usually feed on aquatic plants, they are also excellent insectivores snatching small insects from the air and the surface of the water.

Contrary to popular belief, the Mute Swan is not mute. They will grunt and snort, and occasionally whistle. Their voice is a far cry from the melodious calls of the Trumpeter and Tundra Swans.

The Mute Swan's numbers fluctuate. Many are lost due to pollution, loss of habitat, and variable weather conditions. They are not native to North America but have taken over many of the breeding grounds once controlled by the Trumpeter and Tundra Swan. The Mute Swan is larger and far more aggressive.

In some areas of the country, the population of Mute Swans has exploded. While in others the populations have dipped dangerously low. Some states have introduced efforts to limit their population growth, even reduce their numbers while other states have classified it as endangered. One thing they have all agreed upon, the Mute Swan is a problem. How it will be resolved, only time will tell.