the Mute Swans

Swan is a large water bird that belongs to the same family of waterfowl as ducks and geese. Swans are larger than geese and ducks, and they are easily recognized by their very long necks. Some swans arch their necks in a graceful curve, while others carry their necks upright. Most swans have pure white feathers, but two species that live in the southern hemisphere are completely or partially black. Male and female adult swans look alike. The male swan is called a cob, the female is a pen, and baby swans are cygnets.

Swans are the largest waterfowl. The largest swan in the world is the trumpeter swan of North America. It measures as long as 1.8 m, has a wingspan as great as 2.5 m, and weighs up to 16 kg. The smallest swan is the coscoroba swan of South America, though it is hardly a small bird, measuring about 1 m in length. Some experts believe this bird is more closely related to geese. Many swans have loud, boisterous calls. The trumpeter swan, for example, is named for its bugle-like call, which carries a long distance. The whistling swan (known in North America as the tundra swan) has a whistle-like call. The coscoroba swan produces a loud call that sounds like "cos-cor-ooo." The mute swan is an exception, although it is not entirely silent as the name implies. However, it is far quieter than other swans.