# Swan (*Cygnus olor*)

> 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.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Lakes, rivers, and coasts across Europe and temperate Asia; widely introduced to North America. Resident across the UK.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/swan/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Anseriformes
- **Family:** Anatidae
- **Genus:** Cygnus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Cygnus olor |
| Diet | Herbivore (aquatic plants, grasses, grain) |
| Habitat | Lakes, rivers, ponds, estuaries |
| Lifespan | About 10 years (up to 20+) |
| Weight | 10–12 kg (22–26 lb) |
| Wingspan | 2–2.4 m (6.5–8 ft) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Appearance and size

The mute swan is unmistakable, with pure white plumage, a long S-curved neck, and an orange bill topped by a black fleshy knob that is larger in males. It is among the heaviest of all flying birds, with adults weighing 10 to 12 kg (22 to 26 lb) and spanning 2 to 2.4 m (6.5 to 8 ft) across the wings. Young birds, called cygnets, are greyish-brown and gradually turn white over their first year. Despite their bulk, adults are strong fliers once airborne.

## Flight and movement

Getting a bird this heavy into the air takes effort, so swans run and beat their wings across the water surface for a long stretch before lifting off. Once airborne they are surprisingly fast, reaching speeds of around 80 km/h, with slow, powerful wingbeats that produce a distinctive throbbing sound audible from a distance. On water they swim smoothly and can up-end to feed, while on land they walk with an ungainly waddle. Their large webbed feet make them at home on lakes, rivers, and coastal estuaries.

## Diet and feeding

Swans are herbivores that feed mainly on aquatic vegetation, reaching down with their long necks to graze plants on the bottom of shallow water. They also eat grasses on land and will take grain and other plant matter, and in many parks they readily accept bread, though it is poor nutrition for them. The long neck lets them reach food up to about a metre below the surface without diving. Cygnets feed on the small invertebrates stirred up by the adults as well as on plants.

## Breeding and family life

Mute swans form strong, long-lasting pair bonds and often stay with the same mate for many years. The pair builds a large mound of vegetation near water, where the female lays a clutch of eggs that both parents guard fiercely. Cygnets hatch able to swim and follow their parents closely, sometimes riding on an adult's back among the feathers for warmth and safety. The family stays together through the first winter before the young disperse to find territories of their own.

## Behaviour and temperament

Swans are highly territorial during the breeding season and will drive off intruders, including other swans and sometimes people who venture too close to a nest. A threatening bird raises its wings over its back in a display called busking and can deliver forceful blows with its wings and bill. Outside the breeding season they are more social and may gather in large flocks on open water. Their reputation for aggression is real but seasonal, tied mainly to protecting eggs and cygnets.

## Range and status

The mute swan is native across much of Europe and temperate Asia and has been introduced to North America and elsewhere, where it is now widespread. It thrives on lakes, slow rivers, ponds, and sheltered coasts, and adapts well to parks and other human-modified waters. Populations are generally healthy, and the IUCN lists the species as Least Concern. Individuals commonly live about 10 years in the wild, with some reaching 20 years or more.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does a swan weigh?

Adult mute swans weigh about 10 to 12 kg (22 to 26 lb), making them one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. Males are typically a little larger than females.

### Can swans fly, and how fast?

Yes. Although they need a long running take-off across water to get airborne, swans are strong fliers and can reach speeds of around 80 km/h in flight, with wingbeats that produce a distinctive throbbing sound.

### What do swans eat?

Swans are herbivores. They feed mainly on aquatic plants reached with their long necks, along with grasses and grain. They readily take bread in parks, but it offers them little nutrition.

### How long do swans live?

Mute swans commonly live about 10 years in the wild, and some individuals reach 20 years or more. Well-protected birds in safe habitats tend to live longest.

### Do swans mate for life?

Mute swans form strong pair bonds and often stay with the same mate for many years, sometimes for life. Both parents defend the nest and raise the cygnets together.

### Are swans aggressive?

Swans can be very aggressive when defending a nest or cygnets, raising their wings and striking with wings and bill to drive off intruders. This behaviour is mostly seasonal, and outside breeding they are far more tolerant and often gather in flocks.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Cygnus olor.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Cygnus%20olor&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Cygnus olor. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cygnus_olor/)
- [Wikipedia — Swan.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_swan)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/swan/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.