Mute swan

Latin Cygnus olor
Estonian Kühmnokk-luik

Also known as: no known names

Status in Estonia

Breeding, migratory and wintering bird.

Description

The mute swan is a large bird with white plumage. The neck is very long and the head is small. The tail is fairly long and pointed. The beak is orange-red, with a noticeable black forehead hump; the nostrils, beak edges and tip are all black. The neck is either straight or bent into a S shape when swimming. The juvenile is greyish-brown with a pinkish tint; the beak is dark grey at first, then pinkish-grey and without a hump. The plumage is deeper and browner than that of a juvenile whooper swan.

Size

The largest bird in Estonia, body length 140–160 cm, wingspan 200–240 cm, body mass 9–13 kg.

Similar species

Whooper swan, tundra swan.

Distribution

The mute swan is widespread in the water bodies of the Eurasian woodland and steppe zone, from the British Isles to Ussuri. The distribution area’s northern border stretches to Southern Finland, while its southern border is to Western Afghanistan. It is common in Estonia, particularly on the islands of Western Estonia and along the coastlines of Western and Northern Estonia. It is commonly regarded as a bird of beauty in parks.

Population

Estonia has 4000–5000 breeding pairs.

Occurrence in Estonia

The first mute swans come in March, just as open water bodies emerge, and the last depart in November when the water bodies are totally frozen. Many (8000–17,000) winter here during the winter months when ice conditions and other circumstances allow for feeding.

Diet

It feeds on aquatic plants, insects and molluscs.

Habitat

It prefers densely vegetated sea bays and coastal lakes as well as clear sea islands.

Nesting

Nesting begins in the second half of April/beginning of May. The nest is typically found in reed beds and is a big mound of plants with a nest hole at the top. Reeds, cattail, sedges and other waterside plants are used as building materials. Birds return to the same nesting site year after year, repairing or rebuilding it. The female bird lays 4–8 big greenish-grey eggs. The incubation period lasts 36–38 days and although both birds participate, the female normally rests on the nest while the male guards. The chicks hatch in late May/early June. Mute swan chicks are nidifugous; after hatching, they can follow their mother almost immediately. Chicks learn to fly at the beginning of September.

Conservation status and protection

Not under protection. A mute swan has practically no natural enemies. Humans threaten mute swans primarily by polluting water bodies.

Distribution and population in Lääne County

The mute swan is the most common of the waterfowl breeding among the reed beds of Matsalu and Haapsalu bays and on small sea islands. Mute swans can be observed in large numbers in the spring and autumn, when thousands of individuals converge to eat.
The Haeska, Keemu bird observation towers and Tahu and Saunja birdwatching towers in the Silma Nature Reserve provide the best views of mute swan migration stopovers.