Mute swan

Cygnus olor · The mute swan is a large, all-white swan with an orange beak, native to much of Europe and parts of Asia.

Mute swan
Photo: Sanchezn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mute swan
Photo: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mute swan
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderAnseriformes
FamilyAnatidae
GenusCygnus
SpeciesCygnus olor

Where it lives

Lakes and rivers of Europe and Asia; introduced to North America.

Fun facts

  • The mute swan is one of the heaviest flying birds, and one unusually big Polish male weighed almost 23 kg (51 lb).
  • Despite its name, the mute swan makes noise: its wings in flight throb so loudly they can be heard from 1 to 2 km away.
  • Tired young cygnets may climb onto a parent's back and be carried around on the water.
  • Mute swans can reach speeds of up to 88.5 km/h (55 mph) in flight.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).