Wildlife
Mute swans are a familiar and impressive sight in Britain. Often found on ponds and rivers in parks and other urban areas. By tradition, all mute swans belong to the monarch. They are one of Britain's largest and heaviest birds, with a wingspan of up to 2.4 metres. Male swans are highly territorial and first threaten intruders, striking an aggressive pose with wings arched over their back, before charging at them to chase them off.
Scientific name: Cygnus olor
Rank: Species
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Swan courtship
Swans renew their partnership with a beautiful courtship each spring.
The swannery at Abbotsbury is home to the largest congregation of mute swans in Europe. Swans partner for life, but each spring they renew their courtship.
Silent noise
How did mute swans get their contradictory name?
How did mute swans get their contradictory name?
Swan upping
How an ancient tradition may have saved the swan's neck.
How an ancient tradition may have saved the swan's neck.
Dangerous days
Only half of all cygnets survive their hazardous first few days.
Only half of all cygnets survive their hazardous first few days.
Not just carrion
Crows wait patiently for an opportunity to snaffle a cygnet from its parents.
Crows wait patiently for an opportunity to snaffle a cygnet from its parents.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Mute swan can be found in a number of locations including: Africa, Asia, China, Europe, Mediterranean, United Kingdom, Wales. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Mute swan distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is a species of swan, and thus a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa. The name 'mute' derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. Measuring 125 to 170 centimetres (49 to 67 in) in length, this large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange bill bordered with black. It is recognisable by its pronounced knob atop the bill.
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The Abbotsbury Swans In 2010 Springwatch followed Simon King and his team as they visited a nest of mute swans on the fleet lagoon in Dorset.
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Coastal
Estuaries
Lakes and ponds
Marsh
Rivers and streams
Wetlands
Helpless young
Migration
Adapted to swimming
Adapted to flying
Monogamous
Egg layer
Parental investment
Territorial
Visual communication
Herbivorous
Active at birth
Social