“…and today we’re talking about a bird that make a great gift if you can get them a-swimming. But more on that later.”
Nothing makes the Lords a-leap and the Ladies dance like the regal mute swan. But royal veneration and beautiful snow white feathers doesn’t change the fact they are wild animals, ready to defend the small piece of pond they’ve carved out for themselves. Even though they are the picture of nature’s beauty, a swan still needs to guard the lake with ferocity in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.
Description of the Mute Swan
- Pristine white feathers
- Long, graceful neck
- Black face mask extending from the eyes to the beak
- Bright orange beak with a black knob on top
- Large body, bigger than your average duck
- Webbed feet perfect for paddling
Measure Up
Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener’s favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also the part of the show that’s introduced by you when you send in audio of yourself saying, singing, or chittering the words Measure Up into ldtaxonomy at gmail dot com. We don’t have a new Measure Up intro!
The Swan Princess – Far Longer Than Forever
Wingspan
200 to 240 cm (79 to 94 in) wingspan
- 5 Bb trumpets
- 1.5 trombones
- 9 piccolos
Weight
Males are larger at 9.2–14.3 kg (20–32 lb)
- 4 British short haired cats
- 2.1 The Mona Lisas
- 6.4 St Edwards crowns
Fast Facts about the Mute Swan
- Range: Native to Europe but found throughout North America.
- Habitat: Prefers freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers but will settle for any body of water that gives them enough space to be fabulous.
- Diet: Herbivorous, munching on aquatic vegetation like they’re at an underwater salad bar.
- Behavior: Known for their aggressive territorial behavior, especially during nesting season—think feathered bodyguards.
- Lifespan: Can live up to 15 years in the wild, longer in captivity.
- Social Behavior: Highly social with mates, forming lifelong bonds that make them the relationship goals of the bird world.
- Sounds: Despite being called mute, they make a variety of grunts, snorts, and whistles—enough to keep the conversation interesting. They just make fewer sounds than some of their cousins like the trumpeting swan and the whooping swan.
- Predators: While adults are too big and bad for most predators, their eggs and cygnets are at risk from foxes, raccoons, and snapping turtles.
Major Fact: The Song of Dissent
Mute swans are extremely territorial, especially during the breeding season. They establish and vigorously defend their nesting territories from intruders, including other swans, ducks, and even humans.
Nesting Season
During the breeding season–in the spring–mute swans become highly protective of their nesting area. They will aggressively chase away any perceived threats. Mute swans will hiss, flap their wings, and charge at intruders. They use their powerful wings and strong beaks to defend their territory.
Pair Bonding
Mute swans become more territorial when they form bonds. They usually form strong pair bonds, and both the male and female are involved in defending the territory. This strong partnership helps ensure the safety of their eggs and cygnets.
During courtship, mute swans perform a rhythmic song that synchronizes their head and neck movements. This song can distinguish a bonded pair from two swans that are merely courting, as the rhythm often fails to match the head movements of non-bonded pairs.
Mute swans typically hiss at intruders or competitors entering their territory. The most characteristic sound of mute swans is the vibrant throbbing of their wings in flight, which is unique to the species and can be heard from 1 to 2 kilometers away, serving as a contact sound between birds in flight. Cygnets are particularly vocal, communicating through various whistling and chirping sounds when content, and a harsher chirping noise when distressed or lost.
Year-round
While they are most territorial during the breeding season, mute swans can be protective of their feeding areas and general territory throughout the year.
Their territorial nature is an essential part of their behavior, helping to ensure the survival of their offspring and maintain their dominance in a particular area.
They clash with dogs in England, but if your dog gets out and kills a swan, that’s a crime! If your dog kills a swan in England, you could be charged with criminal damage, a wildlife offense, or theft.
Ending: So stay monogamous, chase foreigners off your turf, toot your own horn like Tru—- I mean the mute swan here in LDT