Mute swan

Mute swan

Cygnus olor

Swans can be seen year-round in the UK, with some additional birds migrating from Europe in the winter.

Mute swans live in fresh and salty water, including sometimes in the sea. They feed mainly on submerged vegetation. Their orange bills distinguishes them from the other two swans found in the UK: the Bewick’s swan and the whooper swan. On the water they’re graceful swimmers but on land their size makes them awkward, lumbering walkers. Their weight also makes it tricky for them to take off and they need a long runnning start. When airborne, you can hear the loud whirring of their wing beats as they fly past.

Despite their name, they actually make a variety of sounds, including hissing loudly when they’re feeling threatened or wanting to intimidate other animals.

They build very large nests made out of piles of reeds or seaweed and will typically lay 4-7 eggs, with their young able to fly in 4 and a half months.

Mute Swans are common in the Solent. Most ponds, lakes, rivers and estuaries have pairs all throughout the year.

Conservation status

They are amber listed in the UK and while they may not be listed in the Solent’s Special Protection Areas but they are important for the coastal ecosystem and form part of the waterbird assemblages for which these regions are protected.