Mute Swans
Cygnus olor
Where is it found?
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Wetlands, lakes, rivers, estuaries and coastlines
Diet and foraging method
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Forage by upending in the water and using their long necks to reach deep down to take vegetation and prey from the water column. Swans also feed on land by grazing on grasses and other plants
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Key adaptations
Swans have long necks that provide great reach underwater and on the land.
Social organisation and mating system
Form large flocks during winter
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Form monogamous breeding pairs
Did you know that...?
Contrary to their name, Mute Swans are anything but mute! They are incredibly noisy birds hissing when approached and making characteristic rumbling 'Heeorr' noises.
Mute swans are one of the heaviest known flying birds and consequently have rather clunky take-offs and (crash) landings.
Mute swans are one of the heaviest known flying birds and consequently have rather clunky take-offs and (crash) landings.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"CygnusOlorNaturalHabitatMorning" by Thermos - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CygnusOlorNaturalHabitatMorning.jpg#/media/File:CygnusOlorNaturalHabitatMorning.jpg
"Höckerschwan Cygnus olor 5 Richard Bartz" by This picture was realized by Richard Bartz by using a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H%C3%B6ckerschwan_Cygnus_olor_5_Richard_Bartz.jpg#/media/File:H%C3%B6ckerschwan_Cygnus_olor_5_Richard_Bartz.jpg
"Cygnus olor eggs" by Roberto Zanon - Photo taken by Roberto Zanon. Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cygnus_olor_eggs.jpg#/media/File:Cygnus_olor_eggs.jpg
"Mute Swans Lake Tegel Berlin 1" by Aconcagua (talk) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mute_Swans_Lake_Tegel_Berlin_1.jpg#/media/File:Mute_Swans_Lake_Tegel_Berlin_1.jpg
"Mute Swan Cygnets detail" by I, Markus Krötzsch. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mute_Swan_Cygnets_detail.jpg#/media/File:Mute_Swan_Cygnets_detail.jpg
"Mute swan preening in Hyde Park" by Keven Law from Los Angeles - Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mute_swan_preening_in_Hyde_Park.jpg#/media/File:Mute_swan_preening_in_Hyde_Park.jpg
"CygnusOlorNaturalHabitatMorning" by Thermos - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CygnusOlorNaturalHabitatMorning.jpg#/media/File:CygnusOlorNaturalHabitatMorning.jpg
"Höckerschwan Cygnus olor 5 Richard Bartz" by This picture was realized by Richard Bartz by using a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H%C3%B6ckerschwan_Cygnus_olor_5_Richard_Bartz.jpg#/media/File:H%C3%B6ckerschwan_Cygnus_olor_5_Richard_Bartz.jpg
"Cygnus olor eggs" by Roberto Zanon - Photo taken by Roberto Zanon. Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cygnus_olor_eggs.jpg#/media/File:Cygnus_olor_eggs.jpg
"Mute Swans Lake Tegel Berlin 1" by Aconcagua (talk) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mute_Swans_Lake_Tegel_Berlin_1.jpg#/media/File:Mute_Swans_Lake_Tegel_Berlin_1.jpg
"Mute Swan Cygnets detail" by I, Markus Krötzsch. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mute_Swan_Cygnets_detail.jpg#/media/File:Mute_Swan_Cygnets_detail.jpg
"Mute swan preening in Hyde Park" by Keven Law from Los Angeles - Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mute_swan_preening_in_Hyde_Park.jpg#/media/File:Mute_swan_preening_in_Hyde_Park.jpg
