The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a large bird. Only its trunk is about 80 cm long, together with the neck the mute swan measures from 140 to 160 cm, and the span of its wings from 200 to 240 cm. Its plumage is entirely white. It has an orange-red bill with a black base; the legs are also black. Its name comes from the conspicuous black knob on the forehead. It has a small head on a very long neck, which it keeps upright while swimming or in the shape of the letter S. On the water this magnificent bird is very elegant, on land it is awkward and ungainly. Because of its size it must work hard to take off. It runs for quite a while and beats its wings strongly before it finally lifts into the air. It flies with an extended neck, and with every wingbeat one can hear the characteristic fluttering, even somewhat singing sound of its powerful wings. The mute swan is a herbivore, feeding mainly on submerged parts of aquatic plants and algae, but on land it likes to graze on meadows. Occasionally its diet also includes some amphibian and invertebrate, mainly insects or snails.
The mute swan is by no means at all shy, rather the opposite. It often shows its displeasure with hissing and puffing if we get too close. It is a water bird, as its life is tied to watery habitats. It enjoys wetlands, shallow lakes, and slowly flowing clean rivers. In some places it nests on the sea coast, but it also likes to stay at artificial water bodies, such as gravel pits or ponds. The nest, a large heap of aquatic vegetation, it builds on the shore right next to the water. The parents carefully and bravely guard the nest against intruders. The swan is a faithful partner, as the female and male stay together for life. If the nesting was successful, the swan pair returns to the same nest year after year. In our country it nests in April and May, but we can observe it all year round. Truly wild populations of mute swans migrate from nesting areas to wintering areas each winter, while European and feral populations of this species spend the winter in the area where they nested, or move to areas that have not frozen.
