{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "swan",
  "name": "Swan",
  "scientificName": "Cygnus olor",
  "category": "Bird",
  "summary": "The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a large white waterbird of lakes, rivers, ponds, and estuaries across Europe and beyond, and one of the heaviest flying birds. Adults weigh 10 to 12 kg (22 to 26 lb) with a wingspan of 2 to 2.4 m (6.5 to 8 ft), and are known for gliding gracefully on water and pairing for many years. Powerful fliers, they can reach around 80 km/h aloft and commonly live 10 years or more. The IUCN lists them as Least Concern.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Aves",
    "order": "Anseriformes",
    "family": "Anatidae",
    "genus": "Cygnus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 12,
    "lengthM": 1.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 80,
    "lifespanYears": 20
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Cygnus olor"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Herbivore (aquatic plants, grasses, grain)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Lakes, rivers, ponds, estuaries"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "About 10 years (up to 20+)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "10–12 kg (22–26 lb)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Wingspan",
      "value": "2–2.4 m (6.5–8 ft)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Lakes, rivers, and coasts across Europe and temperate Asia; widely introduced to North America. Resident across the UK.",
    "continents": [
      "Europe",
      "Asia"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Cygnus olor.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Cygnus%20olor&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Cygnus olor. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cygnus_olor/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Swan.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_swan"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/swan/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/swan/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}