Learn swan facts, including what swans eat, why they're known as a symbol of love and how many types of swans live in North America.
6 Fascinating Swan Facts You Should Know
Updated on Oct. 07, 2024
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Mute Swans Mate for Life
A mute swan typically has only one mate in its lifetime. Pairs usually don’t break up, often only seeking a new partner if their mate dies.
Three Swan Species Live in North America
Only three species of swans nest in North America: the trumpeter swan, the mute swan and the tundra swan (sometimes known as the whistling swan).
Trumpeter Swans Almost Went Extinct
Trumpeter swans almost went extinct during the early 1900s—fewer than 100 were in the Lower 48 at one point. Dedicated conservation work in recent decades has brought their numbers back up into the thousands.
Non-native Mute Swans Came From Europe
Europeans brought mute swans to North America during the late 1800s and early 1900s. They valued swans for the elegance the birds added to parks, ponds and lakes. It spread mostly in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions. Tell it apart from native tundra and trumpeter swans by its orange bill with a black knob.
Diet: What Foods Do Swans Eat?
Mute swans have a big appetite—one study found that they can eat up to 8 pounds of food per day! Swans primarily eat water plants and may graze on short grass. They also occasionally eat invertebrates and insects. Avoid feeding swans bread or crackers.
The Swan Lake Ballet Was Unpopular at First
Swan Lake, the first ballet written by the famous composer Tchaikovsky, premiered in 1877. Now beloved by ballet fans, it was considered a failure initially.
Next, check out 20 types of ducks birders should know.
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