Mute Swan

Mute swans are very large waterfowl: length 50-60 inches long, wingspan 81.9 - 93.7 inches and weighing from 12 to 42 pounds. A brilliant white with an orange bill with a black base. Young swans (cygnets) may be dusky brown-gray all over, with a gray-black bill. They have heavy bodies and short legs, and a long, slender neck usually held in a graceful S. The large, flat bill has a bulging knob at the base. The mute swan is an introduced species in North America, native to Eurasia and the far north of Africa. The name "mute" derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. (Source: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

Read More

---