Mute Swan

The mute swan is a large waterbird native to much of Europe and Asia and introduced to North America, Australia and elsewhere, familiar for its pure white plumage, gracefully curved neck and the orange bill with a black basal knob that distinguishes it from other swan species. Despite its name, it is not actually silent, producing hisses, grunts and a distinctive throbbing sound from its wingbeats in flight, though it is generally quieter than other swans that use loud trumpeting calls. Mute swans feed mainly on aquatic plants, which they reach by upending in shallow water, and pairs are famously monogamous, often staying together for life and aggressively defending their nesting territory and cygnets against intruders. Long kept as an ornamental bird on lakes and rivers across much of the world, the mute swan has become an invasive species of concern in parts of North America, where it can outcompete native waterfowl.