all-white plumage; oft-curved neck (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)


Mute Swan
Cygnus olor

Native Range: Eurasia

Notes: a large and aggressive swan that usually swims with its neck gracefully curved (rather than held straight); the red bill with a black knob at its base further helps to diagnose this species from other swans; native to Eurasia but widely introduced elsewhere into parks and urban gardens; despite its name, this species has a twangy trumpeting note and also hisses or snorts when annoyed.


adult pair; note the orange bill, black face (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)

juveniles; much browner overall (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)

no sexual dimorphism (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)

pair in natural habitat (Luxembourg; 2007-10-16)

body portrait (Luxembourg; 2007-10-16)

head portrait; note black knob at bill base (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)

swimming portrait (Poland; 2012-06-01)

frontal view while swimming (Poland; 2012-06-01)

flock flying in formation (Poland; 2012-06-01)

cygnets (Poland; 2012-06-01)

posing with gracefully curved neck(Poland; 2012-06-01)