Least Concern Birds

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

Mute Swan feeds on aquatic plants in African freshwater lakes and wetlands.

Scientific name	Cygnus olor
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes
Family	Anatidae
Size	Male: 9-12 kg, body length approximately 140-160 cm; female: 8-10 kg, body length slightly smaller

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How to identify

Large body size, pure white plumage; long and elegant neck curved in an S-shape; base of the bill with distinct orange coloration and black knob (bill basal knob); neck is extended during flight; relatively quiet voice, hence the name mute swan.

Habitat

Freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and wetlands, preferring shallow waters rich in aquatic vegetation.

Diet

Primarily feeds on aquatic plants, occasionally small aquatic animals and algae; mainly herbivorous with some omnivorous tendencies.

When it is active

Diurnal, mostly active during the day, especially at dawn and dusk.

Where it lives

Native to Eurasia, extremely rare in Africa; occasionally seen in North Africa as a winter vagrant; small introduced populations in South Africa

How to spot it

Choose migration periods in spring and autumn or breeding season; quietly wait at water edges at dawn or dusk, avoid disturbance; use binoculars or telephoto lenses for observation and photography.

Photography tips

Use natural light to capture details of the white plumage; emphasize the elegant curved neck posture; reflections on water surface and flight moments are excellent photographic subjects.