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Mute Swan Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Calls
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Massachusetts, June 10, 1983Recorded by Dolly Minis / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, March 07, 2009Recorded by Jessie Barry / Macaulay Library
Hiss
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Massachusetts, May 08, 2010Recorded by Ian Davies
Wing sound
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Region Sjælland, May 13, 2009Recorded by Niels Krabbe / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

Mute Swans aren’t mute, but their hoarse, muffled trumpet or bugle call given during territorial defense doesn’t carry like the calls of other swan species. Mute Swans also make an explosive snorting or hissing when threatened or disturbed. Mates greet each other with a short, snoring sound, and females solicit their mates with a slow glock, glock call. Female swans call to their broods with a sound like a yapping puppy. When in a group Mute Swans growl, whistle, and snort at each other. Cygnets whistle a soft, low-volume contact call when preening or feeding with adults, and peep noisily at a high pitch when distressed or lost.

Other Sounds

As they land Mute Swans slap the water with their feet, either pattering alternately or striking simultaneously, to alert possible intruders. In flight the swan’s wings make a rhythmic humming or whistling sound that carries more than a mile and may help the birds communicate with each other.

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Compare the Tundra Swan Adult (Bewick's) to the Mute Swan

Compare the Tundra Swan Adult (Whistling) to the Mute Swan

Compare the Tundra Swan Juvenile (Whistling) to the Mute Swan

Compare the Trumpeter Swan Adult to the Mute Swan

Compare the Trumpeter Swan Juvenile to the Mute Swan

Compare the Snow Goose Adult white morph to the Mute Swan

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Species in This Family

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Greater White-fronted Goose

Pink-footed Goose

Blue-winged Teal

Northern Shoveler

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

American Black Duck

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Ring-necked Duck

Steller's Eider

Spectacled Eider

White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Common Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Browse Species in This Family

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