Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Family: Anatidae (Waterfowl Family)
Length: 1.4m to 1.6m. Wingspan: 2.08 to 2.38m. Weight:10 to 12kg.
The mute swan is one of the largest and heaviest flying birds.
The name “Mute” originates because it is noticeably less vocal than other swan species.
Adults are completely white although the neck and head feathers can become stained from tannins in the water as they feed from submerged water plants, also will graze in fields and salt marshes when not on water.
They can become a nuisance for agriculture when becoming large flocks, not just by consuming the young plants but also their large webbed feet can cause irreversible damage; to crops such as oil-seed rape and wheat.
An adult male swan is larger in size and have a larger knob on their bill than a female adult swan.
Habitat: Natural and Park lakes, reservoirs, rivers, waterways, sheltered sea coasts and Marshes.
Nesting: They gather large amounts of vegetation to build their nest, eventually a large mound of vegetation will be constructed at the waters edge. Up to eight eggs will be laid, and the female will brood for up to 36 days, one brood a year, between March to June.
Mute swans are usually very territorial, especially on small lakes and riverways. In some locations where a large area for feeding is suitable, they can be colonial.
The young swans are known as “Cygnets” and they have a blueish buff-grey plumage, until they reach adulthood in just over a year. The young cygnets grow quickly in size and only after three months will become the same size of their parents. The adult swans are very protective with their young and will easily become aggressive if threatened. It will raise its wings as it lowers its head and makes a loud, rough hiss towards any intruder, even dogs and humans will get the same aggressiveness.
Swans will usually pair for life and like other swans will grieve for a lost or dead partner or cygnet.
If a loss of a dead mate occurs the surviving swan will continue to look after the young, (or eggs) if no young cygnets are present it may stay where their counterpart lived; or leave and join a flock.
Widespread: All over the United Kingdom and mainly in central Europe. Also, across into Russia and has even been recorded nesting in Iceland. In the extreme winter weather, they may sometimes fly further south, as far south as the Mediterranean and North Africa.
In England there has been an increase of attacks on swans by out-of-control dogs, especially in parks where the birds are less territorial. It is unlawful to harm a swan and is a criminal offence in British law. All swans are placed under the highest protection due to their association with the monarch.
Populations in western Europe declined rapidly in the 13th to 19th centuries due to hunting for food. Since then in most western countries the birds are now protected against hunting so the populations have now steadily increased.
Populations in Britain could have been eradicated completely if not due to land owners semi- domesticating the birds, which were being maintained as poultry.
In the 1960’s to 80’s the population decline was due to lead poisoning by discarded lead fishing weights. Lead weights have since been replaced by less toxic alternatives and mute swan numbers have significantly increased in numbers.