Mute swan

Scientific name: Cygnus olor

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Large white waterfowl with a distinctive black knob at the base of the orange-red bill. Males are noticeably larger and heavier than females, with more pronounced knobs; both sexes have long curved necks and dark legs.

Size and weight

Males 10–15 kg, females 7–12 kg; body length 140–160 cm. Males typically 20–30% heavier than females.

Habitat

Mute swans inhabit shallow freshwater lakes, rivers, marshes, and coastal estuaries with emergent vegetation. They prefer areas with aquatic plants and reed beds that provide both food and nesting cover.

Distribution

Native to temperate Eurasia from the UK east to central Asia; introduced populations established in North America and Australia. They favour lowland wetlands and are absent from high-altitude areas.

Diet

Mute swans are primarily aquatic herbivores, grazing on submerged and emergent water plants; they also feed on grains and grasses in adjacent fields, especially in autumn and winter.

Behaviour

Diurnal foragers, often found in pairs or small family groups during breeding season and larger flocks outside breeding. They are highly territorial during nesting and relatively sedentary where water does not freeze.

Hunting tips

Look for well-trampled feeding areas in shallow water margins and adjacent grassland, plus accumulated droppings and feather sign near roosting sites. Approach from downwind during early morning or evening when swans feed; use water or vegetation for concealment. Stalk slowly into position, as swans are highly alert; approach gaps in reed beds where birds congregate.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Germany

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.