( Just Color Variants)

The MUTE SWANS may be divided by Color Variation.
The Black-Legged Swans are ROYALS and come from Great Britain.
The Beige-Legged Swans are called POLISH Swans and they are from Eurasia.

Depending on the Parents Genetics.. you can have BOTH in the Same Brood.

From Late April through June, Mute Swan Cygnets are Hatching all over the Place..
and I get Questions about the Different Colors of the Cygnets.

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To Enlarge Images – Right Click Image then Open in a New Tab.

This Topic Page will Basically be Images – Examples..
To Read more about the Royal and/or Polish.. there are Topic Pages about them.

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Polish Mute Swans have Beige/Light Brown Legs and Feet,
their Beaks are more Orange then Red.

Polish Mute Cygnets are Light Cream to White with Pink/Beige Feet.
Polish Mute Cygnets/Swans will have the Pale Foot Color for life.
The Polish Males Feet are more Brown then Black.

The Cygnets below are from a Mixed Mute Pair.. Above is their Polish Dam.

Below is the Cygnets’ Royal Sire.

Royal Mute Swans have very Black Feet and almost Red Beaks.

Royal Mute Cygnets are a Smoky Blue-Gray-Brown Color
their Beaks are Black and their Legs and Feet are VERY Dark to Black..

These 5 Cygnets are 5 Days Old. We Stopped to Help Pinion them.. Success.

MUTE Swans Mixed Cygnets Following their DAM – Very Cute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coTkuD91h9Q

When Polish Cygnets are Raised Out on the Water with their Parents
they are the most Vulnerable to Predation.. They are EASY to See.
PREY Predator – The Preying of One Animal on others.

A Red-tailed Hawk was Observed Carrying One Polish Cygnet Away.

Within a Few Days the Other Polish Cygnet was Gone.

Hawks and Owls are Feeding their Young at the Same Time of Year…
that Mute Swan Cygnets Hatch..
Swans are Almost Helpless to Protect their Tiny Cygnets.

Two Days after this Visit we got a Call asking us to Come and
Remove the Two Remaining Royal Cygnets…. to Save them..
These Tiny Royal Cygnets were 18 Days Old.

There seems to be a Fair Number of Polish Swans in Central PA..

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The Cygnets below were Unrelated Rescues.. One Female – One Male.

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They were able to Grow Together.. We Planned for them to be a Pair.
Sadly, the Polish Female developed a Heart Infection.. and Died.

These are Other Unrelated Polish and Royal Mute Swan Cygnets..

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I Personally like to have One of Each.. It is So Difficult to Tell many Swans Apart..
Their Knobs change Size during the Years..
Many Times Owners are not sure Which Swan is the Male or their Female.
Especially, when they are Alone.

Having One Polish and One Royal.. makes this Easier..
You can SEE the Color of their Legs… just above the Water..

Then there are Same Sex Pairings.. These Swans REALLY Look Alike..

When we would Stop to Visit the Young Royal Male NestMates above…
I could not tell them Apart.
Their Family could not Either.. Just Calling them “The Boys.”

Driving Home after a Visit.. I kept thinking… they are Like Identical Twins.

I Started to Refer to them as “Castor” and “Pollux.” The Gemini Twins.

When there are Royal and Polish Male NestMates from the Same Brood..
it is Nice to keep them Together. For People who want a Same Sex Male Pair.

When I Pinioned these Rescued Cygnets..
I Sent Samples for the DNA-Sex Determination.
Each Cygnet was Color Banded to Identify them..
Leg Bands were Changed as they Grew.
Make SURE Leg Bands do NOT get TIGHT !

Around (120 Days) we can Send Feathers for the DNA-Sex Determination.
Before this Time.. the DNA LABs may Reject the Feathers.. 

When DNA Results are Back.. We can Start to Arrange for their Forever Homes.

During the First Winter the Royal Cygnet will become more and more White.

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These Young Males were doing Well Together..
They Could have Lived together for Many Years..
Sadly, Fishing Injuries Ended this Pairing.

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Having Two Female… Do NOT Need to be NestMates.

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Both the Royal and Polish Juvenile Females are White by 14-16 Months Old.

The Females below.. I can Tell them Apart by their Pinioned Wings.

The Main Concern when you have Two Females a Companions..
They can not Protect themselves during Nesting. They are VULNERABLE.
You Need to Think of Ways to Improve their Safety from Predators..

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HUM-M-m-m… The More Time I got to Spend with Swans..
I did Notice there are not Just Two Color Variants.. but a Third.. a Blend.

There is a Royal – a Polish – and a Cappuccino Colored Cygnet.

From Reading – No Special Designation is Made for the Cappuccino Cygnets.
They are Classified as Royal – Their Plumage will be Similar to the Royals.

Our Little “Summer” has a DARK Beak and Pale Grey Legs..

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“Meadow’s” Legs and Feet Stayed Light Grey.. Did Not Becoming Dark..

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I think ALL Swans are Wonderful.. – Including Hormonal Cobs.

They all have Different Personalities
and Bring Much Joy to those who Love and Care for them.

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These are Swan and Cygnet Images Snapped over the Many Years
we have been Enjoying Swans.
Collected by Linda M. Sweger & Robert B. Job UpDated May 2024
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Below are More Photo Images of Royal and Polish Cygnets. They were Fun.

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Watching the Cygnets GROW.. and their Personalities Develop..
was a Delightful Part of our Summers. 
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They have All Become Graceful Swans.