LC
Mute Swan Cygnus olor



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and taxonomy of Australian birds. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
Christidis, L.; Boles, W. E. 2008. Systematics and taxonomy of Australian birds. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
Cramp, S. and Perrins, C.M. 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Cramp, S.; Perrins, C. M. 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.
Turbott, E. G. 1990. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand. Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Wellington.
Turbott, E.G. 1990. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand. Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Wellington.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2016 Least Concern
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 -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 22,500,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 27,600,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown poor estimated 2012
Population trend increasing - suspected -
Generation length 12.2 years - - -

Population justification: The global population is estimated to number approximately c.598,000-615,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated at 83,400-116,000 pairs, which equates to 167,000-231,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend justification: The overall population trend is increasing, although some populations have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated to be increasing (BirdLife International, EBCC 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Albania extant native yes
Armenia extant native yes
Australia extant introduced yes
Austria extant native yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes
Bahrain extant vagrant yes
Belarus extant native yes
Belgium extant native yes
Bermuda (to UK) extant vagrant
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native
Bulgaria extant native yes yes
Canada extant introduced yes
China (mainland) extant native
Croatia extant native yes
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant native yes
Denmark extant native yes yes
Egypt extant vagrant
Estonia extant native yes yes
Faroe Islands (to Denmark) extant introduced yes
Finland extant native yes yes
France extant native yes yes
Germany extant native yes yes
Greece extant native yes
Hungary extant native yes
Iceland extant introduced yes
India extant native
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes
Iraq extant native yes
Ireland extant native yes
Israel extant native
Italy extant native yes
Japan extant native
Jordan extant vagrant yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Latvia extant native yes yes
Lebanon extant vagrant yes
Libya extant vagrant
Liechtenstein extant native yes
Lithuania extant native yes yes
Luxembourg extant native yes
Malta extant vagrant
Moldova extant native yes yes
Mongolia extant native yes
Montenegro extant native yes
Morocco extant vagrant
Netherlands extant native yes
New Zealand extant introduced yes
North Korea extant native yes
North Macedonia extant native yes
Norway extant native yes yes
Oman extant vagrant yes
Pakistan extant native
Palestine extant vagrant yes
Poland extant native yes yes
Portugal extant vagrant
Romania extant native yes yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes yes
Russia (European) extant native yes yes
Serbia extant native yes
Singapore extant introduced yes
Slovakia extant native yes yes
Slovenia extant native yes
South Africa extant introduced
South Korea extant native yes
Spain extant native yes
Sweden extant native yes yes
Switzerland extant native yes
Syria extant vagrant yes
Taiwan, China extant native
Tajikistan extant vagrant
Türkiye extant native yes
Turkmenistan extant native yes
Ukraine extant native yes yes
United Arab Emirates extant vagrant yes
United Kingdom extant native yes
USA extant introduced yes
Uzbekistan extant native

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Azerbaijan Gizilagach
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 Islands and coast between Skælskør Fjord and Glænø
Denmark Islands in Smålandshavet, north of Lolland
Denmark Karrebæk, Dybsø and Avnø Fjords (coasts and islands)
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 Ulvsund, Grønsund, Farø Fjord and Fanefjord
Estonia Küdema bay
Estonia Pärnu bay (NEW)
Estonia Väinameri
Estonia Vilsandi archipelago
Germany Coast and lagoons of Western Pomerania
Germany Greifswalder Bodden
Germany Großer and Kleiner Jasmunder Bodden with Schmachter See and Nonnensee
Germany Wismar bay and Salzhaff
Greece Evros delta
Greece Lake Ismarida (Mitrikou)
Greece Megalo and Mikro Livari lagoons, Istiaia
Greece Nestos delta and coastal lagoons
Greece Porto Lagos, lake Vistonida and coastal lagoons
Iran, Islamic Republic of Anzali Mordab complex
Ireland Durnesh Lough
Ireland Inner Galway Bay
Ireland Lough Corrib
Ireland Lough Derg (River Shannon)
Ireland Lough Derravaragh
Ireland Lough Gill
Ireland Lough Kinale and Lough Derragh
Ireland Lough Swilly including Blanket Nook and Inch Lake
Ireland River Shannon callows: Portumna-Athlone
Ireland Tacumshin lake
Ireland Wexford Harbour and Slobs
Kazakhstan Karakol Lake
Kazakhstan Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve
Latvia Liepaja lake
Netherlands Haringvliet
Netherlands Krammer-Volkerak
Netherlands Krimpenerwaard
Netherlands Lake IJsselmeer
Netherlands Veluwerandmeren
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 Puck Bay
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) Kuril islands (between Urup and Paramushir)
Russia (Asian) Lesser Kuril Ridge and Kunashir Island
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 Falsterbo – Bay of Fote
Sweden Fjord of Kungsbacka
Sweden Lake Tåkern
Türkiye 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

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable non-breeding
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 non-breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Freshwater Lakes suitable 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 non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Mute Swan Cygnus olor. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mute-swan-cygnus-olor on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.