Listen to the Mute swan
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About the Mute swan
The Mute swan is a bird in the family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “least concern”. Adults measure about 150 cm, have a wingspan of about 2.3 m and weigh around 11.8 kg.
What does the Mute swan sound like?
Bird vocalisations are usually divided into songs – longer, often complex phrases used to defend territory and attract mates, sung mostly by males in the breeding season – and calls: short, simple sounds for contact, alarm, begging or flight.
The recordings here are labelled as wingbeats, flight call and wings. Listen for differences in rhythm, pitch and repetition – the spectrum display makes it easy to see whether a sound is a pure whistle (a thin line), a harsh call (a broad band) or a trill (rapid repeated marks).
From Wikipedia
The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a species of swan and a member of the family Anatidae within the waterfowl order. It is native to much of Europe and parts of Asia and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is an introduced species in North America, home to the largest populations outside of its native range, with additional smaller introductions in Australasia and Southern Africa. The name "mute" derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. Typically measuring 140 to 160 cm (55 to 63 in) in length, this large swan is wholly white in plumage, with an orange beak bordered with black. It is recognisable by its pronounced knob atop the beak, which is larger in males.
Related birds in the genus Cygnus
More from the family Anatidae
Frequently asked questions
What does a Mute swan sound like?
You can hear 2 recordings of the Mute swan on this page, including its wingbeats, flight call and wings. Bird vocalisations are usually divided into songs – longer, often complex phrases used to defend territory and attract mates, sung mostly by males in the breeding season – and calls: short, simple sounds for contact, alarm, begging or flight.
Is the Mute swan endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Mute swan as “least concern”.
What family does the Mute swan belong to?
The Mute swan (Cygnus olor) belongs to the family Anatidae in the order Anseriformes.
Sources & credits
- Wingbeats · Arnhem, Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands by Joost van Bruggen – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Flight call, wings · Hrubý Šúr, Senec District, Bratislava Region, Slovakia by Alexander Kürthy – CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q25402 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Mute swan – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo by Geni – CC BY-SA 4.0