email a friend
printable version
closeLC
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
| 2008 | Least Concern |
| 2004 | Least Concern |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Does not normally occur in forest |
| Land mass type | Average mass | - |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 3,000,000 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 3,000,000 | medium |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Increasing | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 12.2 | - | - | - |
| Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.600,000-610,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2006), while national population estimates include: <c.100 breeding pairs and <c.1,000 wintering individuals in China; <c.50 individuals on migration and <c.50 wintering individuals in Korea and c.100-10,000 introduced breeding pairs in Japan (Brazil 2009). | ||||
| Trend justification: The overall population trend is increasing, although some populations may be stable and others have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006). | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Albania | Native | No | |||
| Armenia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Australia | Introduced | No | Yes | ||
| Austria | Native | No | |||
| Azerbaijan | Native | No | |||
| Bahrain | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Belarus | Native | No | |||
| Belgium | Native | No | |||
| Bermuda (to UK) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Native | No | |||
| Bulgaria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Canada | Introduced | No | Yes | ||
| China (mainland) | Native | No | |||
| Croatia | Native | No | |||
| Cyprus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Czech Republic | Native | No | |||
| Denmark | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Egypt | Vagrant | No | |||
| Estonia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Faroe Islands (to Denmark) | Introduced | No | Yes | ||
| Finland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| France | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Germany | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Greece | Native | No | |||
| Hungary | Native | No | |||
| Iceland | Introduced | No | Yes | ||
| India | Native | No | |||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iraq | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ireland | Native | No | |||
| Israel | Native | No | |||
| Italy | Native | No | |||
| Japan | Native | No | |||
| Jordan | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Kazakhstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kyrgyzstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Latvia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Lebanon | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Libya | Vagrant | No | |||
| Liechtenstein | Native | No | |||
| Lithuania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Luxembourg | Native | No | |||
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Native | No | |||
| Malta | Vagrant | No | |||
| Moldova | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Mongolia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Montenegro | Native | No | |||
| Morocco | Vagrant | No | |||
| Netherlands | Native | No | |||
| New Zealand | Introduced | No | Yes | ||
| North Korea | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Norway | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Oman | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Pakistan | Native | No | |||
| Palestinian Authority Territories | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Poland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Portugal | Vagrant | No | |||
| Romania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Asian) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Central Asian) | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Serbia | Native | No | |||
| Singapore | Introduced | No | Yes | ||
| Slovakia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Slovenia | Native | No | |||
| South Africa | Introduced | No | |||
| South Korea | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Spain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Sweden | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Switzerland | Native | No | |||
| Syria | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Taiwan (China) | Native | No | |||
| Tajikistan | Vagrant | No | |||
| Turkey | Native | No | |||
| Turkmenistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ukraine | Native | No | Yes | ||
| United Arab Emirates | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom | Native | No | |||
| USA | Introduced | No | Yes | ||
| Uzbekistan | Native | No |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | Atanasovsko Lake |  |
| Bulgaria | Pomorie Lake | |
| Bulgaria | Yatata | |
| China (mainland) | Ebi Nur and Kuytun River | |
| China (mainland) | Ulungur Hu and Jili Hu (Fu Hai) | |
| Denmark | Hyllekrog-Rødsand and Fehmarn Belt | |
| Denmark | Nakskov Fjord and Indrefjord | |
| Denmark | Odense Fjord | |
| Denmark | Præstø Fjord, Ulvshale, Nyord and Jungshoved Nor | |
| Denmark | Roskilde Fjord, Selsø and Kattinge Søerne | |
| Denmark | Saltholm | |
| Denmark | Smålandsfarvandet | |
| Denmark | Smålandsfarvandet (part of) | |
| Denmark | Ulvsund, Grønsund, Farø Fjord and Fanefjord | |
| Estonia | Küdema bay | |
| Estonia | Pärnu bay (NEW) | |
| Estonia | Väinameri | |
| Estonia | Vilsandi archipelago | |
| Greece | Evros delta | |
| Greece | Lake Mitrikou (Ismarida) | |
| Greece | Megalo and Mikro Livari lagoons Istieas | |
| Greece | Nestou delta and coastal lagoons | |
| Greece | Porto Lagos, Lake Vistonis, and coastal lagoons (Lakes of Thrace) | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Anzali Mordab complex | |
| Kazakhstan | Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve | |
| Latvia | Irbe strait | |
| North Korea | Kumya Bay | |
| North Korea | Lake Kwangpo | |
| North Korea | Lake Samilpo | |
| North Korea | Lake Tungjong and Lake Chonapo | |
| North Korea | Taedong River estuary | |
| Poland | Forest at Drawa River | |
| Poland | Insko Site | |
| Poland | Lower Odra river valley | |
| Poland | Puck Bay | |
| Poland | Tuchola Forest | |
| Poland | Vistula Lagoon | |
| Romania | Argeş reservoir | |
| Romania | Buhuşu reservoir - Bacău - Tătărăşti | |
| Romania | Cârja - Maţa - Rădeanu - Roşcani | |
| Romania | Danube Delta | |
| Romania | Olt valley | |
| Russia (Asian) | Aniva bay | |
| Russia (Asian) | Kunashir island | |
| Russia (Asian) | Kuril islands (between Urup and Paramushir) | |
| Russia (European) | Dadynskiye lakes | |
| Russia (European) | Delta of the Kuban' river | |
| Russia (European) | Delta of the River Don | |
| Russia (European) | Kazachka | |
| Russia (European) | Kiziltash limans | |
| Russia (European) | Taman' | |
| Russia (European) | Veselovskoye reservoir | |
| Russia (European) | Western Ilmen area | |
| South Korea | Hwajinpo-ho lake | |
| Sweden | Bay of Kungsbackafjorden | |
| Turkey | Meriç Delta | |
| Ukraine | Budats'kyj lyman | |
| Ukraine | Dnipro delta | |
| Ukraine | Jansheijs'ke lake | |
| Ukraine | Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays | |
| Ukraine | Kugurluj and Kartal lakes | |
| Ukraine | Molochnyj Liman | |
| Ukraine | Pryp'yat' river valley | |
| Ukraine | Sasyk lake | |
| Ukraine | Shagany-Alibej-Burnas lake-system | |
| Ukraine | Stentsivs'ko-Zhebriyanivs'ki plavni | |
| Ukraine | Syvash Bay | |
| Ukraine | Tyligul's'kyj lyman | |
| Ukraine | Utlyuk lyman | |
| Ukraine | Yagorlyts'ka and Tendrivs'ka Bays | |
| Uzbekistan | Sudochye Lake | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Freshwater Lakes | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Freshwater Lakes | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Altitude | 0 - 0 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food (human) | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | International | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Sport | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Cygnus olor. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Anatidae (Ducks, geese and swans) |
| Species name author | (Gmelin, 1789) |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Increasing |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 3,000,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
| - Summary information on this species | |
|
|