The majestic Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) are a defining feature of the waterfront along the Danube River in Belgrade, particularly in the historic neighborhood of Zemun.
The house my kids rented while on holiday was a great vantage point for watching swans glide smoothly across the wide Danube. They are used to people and often come close to shore.
Mute Swans are not silent, but they are much quieter than other swan species. They earn their name because their most common sounds are low-volume snorts, hisses, or soft barking notes.
The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) are easy to recognize by their curved necks, and pure white plumage
Among the heaviest flying birds, adults typically weigh between 20 to 26 pounds (9 to 11.8 kg) with a wingspan stretching over 6 to 7 feet.
Mute swans form strong, lifelong pair bonds. During the breeding season, they fiercely defend their large territories against other waterfowl. They can be quite aggressive toward humans who approach too closely to their nests or cygnets.
Mute Swans are indigenous to Eurasia,
but were imported from Europe during the mid-19th to early 20th centuries to adorn parks, estates, and zoos, and escapees established populations in North America, particularly the Great Lakes.
They have bright orange bills with a distinctive black base and a prominent black knob (which swells and grows larger on breeding males during the spring).
Young birds (cygnets) start out with dull grey-brown plumage and a grey bill before they get their bright white adult feathers.
All photos are from my family albums.
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