Enchanting, Elegant, Graceful, Majestic Mute Swans.
Basic Anatomy Information.
This Page is Labeled Photos of General Swan Features.
Basic Anatomy of Mute Swans
Click to Enlarge
Mute Swan Cob
Mute Swan Pen
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From: knowledgerush search: Mute Swan
Common Name Mute Swans – Tame Swans
Binomial Name – Cygnus olor
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae WaterFowl
Genus Cygnus
Species olor
Mute Swan – Cygnus olor
Mute Swan Cob
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In the United Kingdom the Knob is often Called “The Berry.”
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Below – The Cob’s Beak is Peeling like a Thin Shed..
Yes, Swans do this .. How many times a Year.. I am not Sure.
You will see their Legs Shed also.
An Evolutionary Leftover from when Birds were Lizards.
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Swans have a Dense Skin on their Beaks..
Feels like Velvet. It can be Scratched and get Infected..
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Avian – Swan Body Temperatures have a Wide Range
that is Related to their Activity.
IF you Need to Go to the Vets.. this might be Helpful..
Swan have a Higher Normal Body Temp then Human..
And their Temp will Vary by their Activity or Stress Level..
Like us, Birds are Warm Blooded, which means their Bodies
maintain a Constant Temperature, often around 104-106 degrees Fahrenheit.
Core Temperature in Birds Ranges between 34 and 44 °C
Birds Body Temperature Range is usually 39-43 degrees C (102-109 F)
Mean Levels of Body Temperatures (Tb) for all Birds are:
( Resting/ Active Phase/ High Activity )
( 102 to 103 F / 104 to 106 F / 107 to 109 F )
They have Ranges According to their Activity Level..
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I Found only a Few Actual Bits of Data for Mute Swans Specifically.
Normal Ranges are Noted as Resting or Active..
Thermoneutral – Resting > > 39.5 degrees C – 103.1 degrees F
Active – Stress > > 41.1 degrees C. – 105.98 degrees F.
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Swan’s Eyes are on the Sides of their Head.
They are Prey Birds.. and Need a Wide Visual Field to see Danger.
Unfortunately, this Limits their Forward Vision.
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The Lamellae along the Beak helps the Swans Cut Plant Leaves and Grass.
Swans have Very Little Bite Pressure.
In ALL the Years I have been Working with Swans,
I have Never had a Bite that Cut or Punctured my Skin.
At Most their Bite is more of a Pinch.
In the Photo Above
Our Little Female was Playfully Untying my Husband’s Boot Lace.
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The Cygnets Nails will Become Black as they Grow.
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ATTENTION ALL SWAN CARETAKERS
LOOK Closely at the Images Below ! !
This NOT Normal Anatomy !!!
This is an UNDER TONGUE IMPACTION !!!
Do YOUR BEST to REMOVE these Wads of Dirt and Fibers.
( Original ) < I USED Computer Editing to Remove the Impaction from Image. > ( Edited )
With a Team to Help, We DID Catch this Swan and Remove the Under Tongue Impaction.
Under Tongue-Chin Impaction
https://swanlovers.net/category/under-tongue-chin-impaction/
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Now to their Legs and Feet – BIG FEET.
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Identifying Leg Bands Should be Not be Too Tight and Stay on this Section of their Leg.
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In the Images Above and Below.
This Young Cygnet’s Feet are Showing Signs of Too Much Time on Hard Surfaces.
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The Foot and Leg Skin of a Swan Looks like a Reptile. There are NO Scales. 
This Skin Periodically Sheds the Same as a Lizards or Snakes.
The Webbing Between their Toes is Very Flexible.
The Pale Webbing is from a Polish Mute Swan Foot.
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The Mature Mute Cob Below Weighed over 30 Pounds.
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SHE has a VERY Large Knob…
The Size of the Mute Swan’s Knob is not a Reliable Way
to Determine their Sex….
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A Swan’s Esophagus is Located along the Right Side of their Neck. 
You can watch the Food they Swallow Slide Down the Right Side. 
I am going to Include the Following Series of Images Here.
Because this was a Worry until I Understood what I was Seeing.
We were Visiting with our Swans – Lots of Greens, Vegetables and Treats.
Our Cob was Eating VERY Fast.. Loving the Goodies.
When he Stopped Eating.. He was Floating Quietly out on the Pond.
I Noticed this Swollen Area on his Neck.. and Wanted to Panic !
Good Grief WHAT was Wrong with his NECK !
It was Mid-Afternoon on a Sunday, NO Hope of Taking him to a Vet.
Once Home, I Started a Search for Swan Crops.. NOTHING.
Crop: A Pouch in the Esophagus used to Store Food Temporarily
before moving it on to the Stomach.
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Waterfowl DO NOT Possess a True “Crop.”
Instead, their Esophagus is Capable of Expanding
to Accommodate Substantial Amounts of Food.
These Young Cygnets were EATING their Lettuce SO FAST..
And we would See the Right Side of their Necks FULL of Lettuce.
SWANs are Grazers Normally Nibbling throughout the Day.
BUT, WHEN they “Pig-OUT” you may see this Pouching on their Lower Right Neck.
IF You See this and it does NOT Go Away..
Suspect your Swan Swallowed SOMETHING that is NOT Digestible..
THEN be CONCERNED.
Swans can have Obstructions due to Swallowing Trash.
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WING JOINTs – WRIST – ELBOW – Shoulder
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“RUSTY RED CROWN”
Swans use their Beak and Head to do most of their Preening.
The Tiny Feathers on their Heads become Worn.
If there is Iron in their Pond Water, this Mineral attaches to these Feathers.
Air interacts with the Iron Particles and Rust forms.
This Rusty Cap will be Renewed to a Clean White during their Annual Moult.
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We Rescued the Swan Above.. he was Under Weight in this Photo.
And Recovering from having his Left Wing Amputated..
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Healthy Swans Spend around Two Hours a Day Preening their Feathers.
If you get a Chance now and then – Check the Color of your Swans Tongue.
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This Information is a Work in Progress…..
As I learn more I will add to this information..
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Compiled by (C) L.M.Sweger UpDated May 2022
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