Swan (Mute) - Overview

Order: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae

Species: Cygnus olor

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Population trend: increasing

Distribution: found throughout the UK. Also in a few areas across northern Europe, eastwards to Mongolia. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Habitat: large freshwater areas, such as rivers, lakes and canals. Also estuaries, especially in winter.

Description: adults all white; young are grey to begin with, and develop brown feathers which they keep until their second year. Reddish-orange bill, with a black knob of skin at the base.

Size: length:- 1.5m. Wingspan:- 2.25m. Weight:- male, 10kg, female, 8kg.

Life-span: most swans do not live more than 7 years in the wild. They can live up to 50 years.

Food: underwater plants, grasses and cereal crops.