Mute Swan

Overview

Mute Swan: Aggressive bird, entirely white, orange bill with large black basal knob and naked black lores. Curved neck is often stained with pigments from iron or algae. Legs and feet are black. Feeds on aquatic plants collected from bottom. Direct flight with strong steady wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Mute Swan: Prefers freshwater, salt marshes, and protected bays.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Mute Swan is less vocal than the noisy Whooper and Bewick's Swans; the most familiar sound associated with them is the whooshing of their wings in flight. The phrase ‘swan song’ refers to this swan and to the legend that it is utterly silent until the last moment of its life, and then sings one achingly beautiful song just before dying; in reality, the Mute Swan is not completely silent. The Mute Swan is the national bird of the Kingdom of Denmark. They are very territorial. The familiar pose with neck curved back and wings half raised, known as busking, is a threat display. There have been many reports of Mute Swans attacking people who enter their territory. Their wings are believed to be so strong that they can break a person's arm with one hit. A group of swans has many collective nouns, including a "ballet", "bevy", "drift", "regatta", and "school" of swans.