Birds · Anseriformes · Anatidae

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. Contrary to popular belief, established pairs do not always stay together for good, though they do breed more successfully when they do.

Weight

6.6 kg – 12 kg

Size

1.4 m – 1.6 m

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterHerbivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Freshwater

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Fun facts

It is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world.
Contrary to popular belief, pairs do not always stay together for life.
It can swim and feed itself shortly after hatching.
reproducciónIt forms pair bonds that usually last for life, and in a few documented cases two females have raised cygnets together after taking over a nest.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Lakes, ponds, rivers and shallow sheltered bays of Europe and Asia; introduced to North America
Birth weight: Covered in grey-brown down at hatching; exact weight not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Able to swim and feed itself soon after hatching
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years (effective breeding usually from the third year)
Gestation / incubation: 34-41 days (usual reference 36-38 days)
Litter / clutch size: 2 to 12 eggs per clutch (most commonly 5-7)
Lifespan in captivity: Anecdotal cases of up to 70 years in captivity

Sources consulted: NHPBS NatureWorks; Minnesota DNR; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; Animalia.bio; BirdsGlobe; IUCN Global Invasive Species Database