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Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

Bird · family Anatidae · order Anseriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Oldest known wild bird
26 years[3]

The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is a bird in the family Anatidae, order Anseriformes[4]. NatureServe lists it as introduced, not native, in 28 US states[5][6], and it is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Mute Swan a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. In every state where NatureServe ranks it, the state rank is SNA, which is used for species that are not native there[6].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern

Where Mute Swan lives

NatureServe lists the Mute Swan as introduced, not native, in 28 states[6]. These include Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia[5]. This list shows where NatureServe records the bird, not a promise that you will see one there[5].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: introduced, state rank SNAMEWisconsin: introduced, state rank SNAWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: introduced, state rank SNANHWashington: introduced, state rank SNAWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: introduced, state rank SNAMNIllinois: introduced, state rank SNAILMichigan: introduced, state rank SNAMINew York: introduced, state rank SNANYMassachusetts: introduced, state rank SNAMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: introduced, state rank SNAIAIndiana: introduced, state rank SNAINOhio: introduced, state rank SNAOHPennsylvania: introduced, state rank SNAPANew Jersey: introduced, state rank SNANJConnecticut: introduced, state rank SNACTRhode Island: introduced, state rank SNARICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: introduced, state rank SNANEMissouri: introduced, state rank SNAMOKentucky: introduced, state rank SNAKYWest Virginia: introduced, state rank SNAWVVirginia: introduced, state rank SNAVAMaryland: introduced, state rank SNAMDDelaware: introduced, state rank SNADEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: introduced, state rank SNAARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: introduced, state rank SNANCSouth Carolina: introduced, state rank SNASCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: introduced, state rank SNAOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[6].
Show state ranks (28 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArkansasSNANot Applicable
ConnecticutSNANot Applicable
DelawareSNANot Applicable
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
IndianaSNANot Applicable
IowaSNANot Applicable
KentuckySNANot Applicable
MaineSNANot Applicable
MarylandSNANot Applicable
MassachusettsSNANot Applicable
MichiganSNANot Applicable
MinnesotaSNANot Applicable
MissouriSNANot Applicable
NebraskaSNANot Applicable
New HampshireSNANot Applicable
New JerseySNANot Applicable
New YorkSNANot Applicable
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable
OhioSNANot Applicable
OklahomaSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaSNANot Applicable
Rhode IslandSNANot Applicable
South CarolinaSNANot Applicable
VirginiaSNANot Applicable
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaSNANot Applicable
WisconsinSNANot Applicable

Habitat

The Mute Swan lives on open, quiet water[8]. NatureServe names lakes, ponds, marshes and slow rivers, and in winter it also uses brackish and sheltered marine waters[8]. Recorded habitat types include herbaceous wetland, riparian areas, big rivers, shallow water, bays, lagoons and tidal flats[9]. It nests near the shore, on small islands, or in reed beds standing in shallow water[8].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[9]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Mute Swan is a herbivore[10]. It mainly eats water plants that it pulls up from the bottom in shallow water[11]. NatureServe records a typical length of 152 cm (60 in)[12]. It records a typical adult weight of 26 lb[13]. Clutch size averages 4 to 6, and incubation lasts 34 to 38 days, mostly done by the female[14]. Both parents look after the young, which are independent at about 4 months[14]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 40 years in AnAge[15]. The oldest known wild bird in US and Canadian banding records was at least 26 years 9 months old[3].

Trait Value
Typical length[12] 152 cm (60 in)
Typical adult weight[13] 11.8 kg (26 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[15] 40 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[3] 26 years 9 months
Litter or clutch size[16] 5.3
Gestation or incubation[17] 36 days
Female maturity[18] 1,095 days (about 3.0 years)
Food habits[10] Herbivore
Migration[19] non-migrant, local migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[20]

  • 80% other plant material
  • 10% reptiles and amphibians
  • 10% invertebrates

When to look for it

NatureServe describes the Mute Swan in North America as a bird that makes short local trips or does not migrate at all, and populations can differ[21][19]. On GBIF, most US records fall in March, April and May[22]. These records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[22].

January: 143,718 recordsJanFebruary: 122,934 recordsFebMarch: 166,842 recordsMarApril: 178,060 recordsAprMay: 175,108 recordsMayJune: 75,226 recordsJunJuly: 65,182 recordsJulAugust: 76,639 recordsAugSeptember: 94,070 recordsSepOctober: 117,277 recordsOctNovember: 113,284 recordsNovDecember: 105,659 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[22].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January143,718
February122,934
March166,842
April178,060
May175,108
June75,226
July65,182
August76,639
September94,070
October117,277
November113,284
December105,659

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Mute Swan as present in 24 park units[23]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut[24]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Mute Swan endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, Secure, worldwide[2].
Is the Mute Swan native to the United States?
No. NatureServe lists it as introduced in 28 states, including New York, Michigan and Washington[5][6].
What does the Mute Swan eat?
It is a herbivore that mainly eats water plants pulled up from the bottom in shallow water[10][11].
How big is a Mute Swan?
NatureServe records a typical length of 152 cm (60 in)[12]. It records a typical adult weight of 26 lb[13].
How long does a Mute Swan live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 40 years in AnAge[15]. The oldest known wild bird in US and Canadian banding records was at least 26 years 9 months old[3].

Facts and sources

  1. Mute Swan is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Mute Swan: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Oldest known wild Mute Swan from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 26 years 9 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  4. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is a bird in the family Anatidae, order Anseriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe lists Mute Swan as introduced (not native) in: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New... NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe state ranks for Mute Swan (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on habitat for Mute Swan. NatureServe Explorer
  9. Habitat types NatureServe records for Mute Swan: Herbaceous wetland, Riparian, Big river, Low gradient, Shallow water, Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Lagoon, Tidal flat/shore. NatureServe Explorer
  10. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on food for Mute Swan. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 152 cm (60 in). NatureServe Explorer
  13. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 11.8 kg (26 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Mute Swan. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 40 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  16. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 5.3. AnAge
  17. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 36 days. AnAge
  18. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,095 days (about 3.0 years). AnAge
  19. NatureServe migration category for Mute Swan: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  20. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 80% other plant material, 10% reptiles and amphibians, 10% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  21. NatureServe notes on migration for Mute Swan. NatureServe Explorer
  22. GBIF observation records of Mute Swan in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  23. NPSpecies park lists recording Mute Swan as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  24. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Mute Swan: New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.