Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Family Anatidae
Subfamily Cygninae

The mute swan is an ornamental park swan that was originally brought to America for its aesthetic value.  Now well-established, it is the only member of the swan subfamily Cygninae regularly seen in New England.

Identifying Traits (both sexes):

• Pure white plumage
• Long, sinuous neck, usually held in an S-curve when swimming
• Bright orange bill with a prominent black knob
• Usually swims with wings held erect
• Legs black; set far back on body
• Large, black webbed feet
• Juvenile: Predominantly dingy brown, bill pale pink
• Size: 150 cm (60”)
• Weight: 11 kg (25 lbs.)

Voice: The mute swan is, unsurprisingly, mute.  However, swans have been known to hiss when their nests or young are threatened, and their wingbeats make a musical whistling sound.

Habitat: The mute swan lives in bodies of both fresh and salt water, including park ponds, coastal lagoons, and bays.

Range: The mute swan was introduced in the Northeast, and areas near the coast in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts comprise the majority of its New England range.

Interesting Facts: Except for a few special populations, every mute swan in the United Kingdom is property of the British monarch.