JwN small logo

 

Mute swan cygnets

The Difference between Mute swans and our Native Tundra & Trumpeter Swans

Mute Swan:
- has a bright orange bill
- neck is strongly curved in a S-shape while swimming
- is found in areas heavily populated areas
- only swan found in Indiana during the summer months
- only specie found in Indiana to breed in our state

Native Swans:
- have solid black bills with yellow marks near the eyes
- carry necks slightly curved or very straight while swimming
- not found in heavily populated areas
- do no spend summers in Indiana; migrate through or spend winters in our state

Mute Swan

The mute swan is an exotic specie found throughout Indiana in the warm summer months. Despite its name, this swan causes quite a commotion.

The Mute Swan

Mute swans (Cygnus olor) are one of three species of swans found in Indiana. Though there are various differences between the three, the most notable fact is that the mute swan is an exotic specie while the tundra and trumpeter swans are native.

Mute swans were introduced to North America from Europe & Asia in the late 1800's. Despite its name, the mute swan is not mute. It simply isn't as vocal as other species, and its snorts and hisses are very low and do on not carry well across the water. Mute swans are more known for the loud vibrations as their large wings  flap against the water before they take flight.

In Indiana, the mute swan can be seen swimming alongside its mate and their young in the warm, sunny months. It is, in fact, the only swan specie seen in the summer. Though it prefers areas  regularly visited by people and other animals, they are not friendly. The mute swan is an extremely territorial and aggressive waterfowl that will go after animals as big as a fox if it feels its family is in any danger.

As an exotic specie, the mute swan is a species of concern in Indiana. Known to eat almost eight pounds of aquatic plants a day, it is seen as a threat to our wet habitats and the native species that need a healthy lake, wetland or pond in order to survive. Though considered a pest, mute swans are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act in 2004. A permit is required to lethally remove one; live birds can be kept but most be pinioned (made flightless) and are kept in an enclosure that will prevent it escaping into the wild. 

Interesting Facts about the Mute Swan

  • Swans are closely related to geese and ducks.
  • The mute swan is one of the largest flying birds wit males weighing in at almost 30 pounds.
  • Mute swans are usually found in pairs; they reportedly mate for life.
  • They are often seen nesting on large mounds of vegetation in shallow waters near the edges of lakes and ponds.
  • The black knob at the base of the male's bill swells noticeably larger than the female's during mating season.
  • Mute swan offspring are called cygnets. Cygnets are not bright white like adults, but are between buff and a light gray with dull grayish-black beaks.

* Information gathered from Wikipedia and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Dickbauch/WIkipedia (mute swan); Photo © Markus Krötzsch/Wikipedia (mute swan cygnets).