There are Common Behaviors that Swans use to Express their Moods
and “Talk” to each Other.

If you take the Time to Watch them Closely,
you will Learn many Things about them
and How they Communicate with Each Other.

AND How they will Communicate with YOU !

Mute Swan Body Language & Vocals
TheCornellLab – All About Birds Mute Swan Sounds
Mute Swan Call
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mute_Swan/sounds

Click Images to Enlarge

The More Time we Spend with our Animal and Bird Pets,
the More we try to Communicate with them
and the More they try to Communicate with Us.

“Meadow” and Rob are Whistling while they Walk.

Having the Privilege of Spending Time with many Swans over the Years,
we are Aware of some of the Common Ways Swans Communicate with Each Other.

If you Listen Closely you will hear Quiet Muttering.

******

******

******

******
Nodding a “Hello” Reply.
The Quick Head Nod with Eye Contact as you First Come to Visit.. is “Hello”

The Throaty Rumble from their Chest is a “Happy Greeting.”
Their Body Language can Speak Volumes.
Happy  Joy – Play Chasing

BEST FRIENDS ! ! 
******

******
******    Happy Greeting 
At a Waterfowl Rescue,
a Young Rescued Cygnet is Introduced to the Pond
And is Welcomed – Accepted..
Head Turning is a GOOD Sign they Like Each Other.

*************************************

Some Times a LOOK Says it All.   

******

******

    Happy Display
******

Swans of Different Species will Learn to Communicate.

Snorting “Thank YOU” for Food and Treats.
The Three Quick Snorts with their Heads in the Air is “Thank You.”
******

******
******
******

Swans May Nap Floating Upright in the Water.
Head Turning Side to Side is “I Like You.”

Young Male Hugs a New Female.

Snorting a “Welcome” to a New Female Swan.

When their Upper Neck is Puffed UP.. Happy Emotion.

******

 “Adoring” the Young Cygnets.

Juvenile Swan Listens to Cygnet’s Story. 
******

A Real Swan Lake Ballet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxG4h_Fj_kY#t=43.221333

Mute Swans do have Vocals..
Young Cygnets “Whistle and Chirp.”******

Very Young Cygnets Naturally Greet Friendly People.
******

The Cygnets’ Vocals will Change around 5-6 Months..
The Cygnets start to Snort.. and will Whistle Less and Less.
Rob and I were able to Whistle with the Cygnets..
but, I Never Developed a Decent Snort.. So, I Stopped Trying.
We had to Settle for the “Head Nod Greetings.”

Older Cygnets and Adults “Snort’ and “Grunt” and “Arf.”
Some Swans “Mutter” and “Hum.”

Several of our Female Swans “Mutter” little Humming Songs as they Eat..
Happy Sounds. Sounds a bit like a Giggle..

We had one Male. who would make a Small ‘Shuus-Shuus” Sounds
when he Wanted more Treats.******

We Tried to Hand Feed him..

but he would Stare at us Until we just Tossed his Treats in the Water.

He Enjoyed Cereal Treats.
***************************************

IF you See a Swan Panting.. it Might be TOO HOT !!
OR having Trouble Breathing..

This can Happen when you Hand Raise Cygnets.
Being on a Pond they are more able to Regulate their Body Temp.
Try to Get them INTO Cool Water and Shade ASAP.
Remember the Water in a Kidde Pool in the Sun can GET HOT !
******************************

When you Approach your Swans for a Visit,
as you make Eye Contact, Nod “Yes” and Say “Hello.”

There is a Good Chance your Swans
will Quickly Raise and Lower their Head to Greet You.

******

Both Adult Swans and Cygnets will Nod “Hello.”

******“Pippa” was Always Happy to see Rob.

******

Many Swans will “Snort, Snort, Snort” to say
“Thank You” when you Bring them Food or Treats.

************

Many Swans are Polite and will take Turns with each other.
Playing   –  Swans Sharing a Head of Lettuce.

Taking Turn with a Chunk of Lettuce.
Swans are Emotional Creatures.

VIDEO LINK to VOCAL Sounds 
Young Mute Juvenile Swans – “I Like You” Vocals
Necks Puffed-up with Happy Emotions.
One Mating Pair at the VERY End…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjvH6d3WY9Y

A Swollen Upper Neck is Happy Emotion..
Swans Expressing Happiness.

King of his Pond******

Swans Express Happiness, Love, Patience, Loyalty,
Trust and Distrust.

Happy Snorting

Preening Together is Social Time.

An Adoring Gaze. Male Swan Tells his Female he Loves her.

Courting Behavior as Young Swans Pair Bond.
******
******
******
Mother’s Love – A Loving Dam
Watching the Gentle, Loving Care with her Tiny Cygnet.

TRUST takes Time.

  Trust

Suddenly Alone this Young Female is Afraid to Trust Us.

Male Swans are Known for their Aggression.

******

This Mute Cob was NOT Happy to See Us !
          Aggressive Mute Swan Cob

Swans can Threaten, Display Anger,
Fear, Concern, Sadness, Loneliness.

When a Male Swan is Pushing Water – LOOK OUT ! !

“Never Turn Your Back on a Hormonal Male Swan.”

Angry Swan Cob Threatening !!

Mute Swan Cob “Killing” the White Pillow !!!
Avoid ANYTHING White in the Winter & Spring !

SERIOUS CHASING can End in Injuries !!This is NOT Good to Witness.

Swan killing Swan in High Park, Toronto
THE People just stand there WATCHING..
They do not understand what they are Seeing. SAD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnMualBSzKs

*****************

Swans will Alarm when they are Afraid.
You will Hear “Arf Arf Arf ” ! !

Wing Flitting… Might be Tenseness.

Hand Raised Mute Swan Cygnets Miss their Parents.

A Lonely Swan is a Sad Image.
They will Seek Feathered Company.

Swans can be Silly, Joyful, Playful and Tease each Other..

Claudiu Claus FaceBook Page
https://www.facebook.com/claudiu.claus2/videos/1075989975783172/
Swan Plays Ball with a Beach Person..

***********************

Courting Swans will Snort, Head Raised, Floating Chest to Chest.

Joyful Splashing is Happy Play.

Swans can get Excited when they are Happy.

This Cygnet is Happy to See us.

 “Spring” Play Chases a Duck that Teases her.******
Teasing – Playing a Joke.******

******

  Whooper Swans and Mute Swans Dancing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YebqUp_hB1w

Preening or Flirting ???
Oh, it Feels Good to Stretch.
Why are their Feet in the Air ??

******
******

Swans Doing the Paper Work.
Blowing Bubbles – Blowing their Nares.

Swans Establishing Pecking Order – Shoulder Nipping.

Swan Cob Protecting his Female.

******

Swan Cob-Sire Protecting his Family.

Swan Pen-Dam Chasing Cygnet from Danger.

******
BUSKING 
Busking can be Hard to Read…
Some Times it is a Threat…
Some Times it is an Excited Greeting…

BEST to be Careful…

I Walked TOO Close to his Pond.

******

Adult Male is Chasing off his Cygnet. 

As you Spend Time with Swans,
you will Realize how Intelligent they are.
It may not Happen Immediately,
but they will Problem Solve.

 Male Swan Thinking and Planning to Build a New Nest.
******
******
******
******
******
******
******
“Handsome Fellow” was Pleased with this Nest Site.

****************************************************************

Swans are Curious, Suspicious, Cautious.
She is Watching What I am Doing.


Swans Getting into Trouble.
******************************************

Swans and Cygnets are Aware of Planes and Large Birds Over Head.
****************************************

 Alert to a Strange Sound.
Mute Swan Alarm Calls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Px9o5JgABc
The Alarm Call we know is a Loud “ARF” – Almost a Bark..
They Hold their Neck Tall and Straight…

***********************************
TheCornellLab – All About Birds Mute Swan Sounds
Mute Swan Hissing
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mute_Swan/sounds

“HISSSssssing”  – Trying to Scare Me Away.
Swans will Hiss LOUDLY and Arch into a Tense Posture.
They Hope to Look BIG and Scary.   It Worked for our Cat. 

“Hissing” is “STAY WAY- DO NOT GET CLOSER.”
Give them Space or You May get Whacked.
Good to have a Barrier..   Heavy Clothing.
***************************************

Swans have Excellent Memories.
They Start to Learn their Life Lessons before they Hatch.
The Pen will start to Hum to the EGGs the Last Few Days.

Now the Dam’s Vocals Sounds like Baby Puppies.
Swan Dam Talks to her Cygnets.

SWANS DO SING

A Bird does not Sing because it has an Answer, it Sings because it has a Song.”
Chinese Proverb

Some Swans like to Sing.

Swan May Sing when they are VERY HAPPY !
   The Swans are Singing a Joyful Announcement.

A Lone Male Swan will “Sing-Snort,”
Calling for a Female to come Find him.

******

******

If a Swan’s Mate is Missing – Has Died or Flown Away or been Removed..
The Remaining Swans will Call for them.
MUTE SWAN Calling a Lost Mate CRYing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr6v0oooeM

***********************************************************

 Trumpeter Swans have a Victory Laugh.

Swans will Watch the Sun Rise and the Sun Set.

Swans Change their Vocal Sounds during the Evening-Night Time.

They Become VERY QUIET.
They Whisper Quite Little Whistles.
OR They Make No Sounds at All..  To Avoid being Noticed.

**************************************

Many Swans are Good Listeners..
You can tell them about your Day…( NO Yelling ! )
You can Read your Junk Mail to them..
Tell them Stories.. They like to hear your Voice.

If you Smile while your are Swearing.. they will not feel Threatened..

***************************************
Do you Play Music for your Swans.. ???
Swans Enjoy Music..
Easy Listening and Instrumentals..
Piano Music.. Violins..

There are Several People in my SwanNetwork
that Play Music for the Swans.. (-;

***************************************

SWANs MAKE ME SMILE.

This Information is a Work in Progress…..
As I learn more I will add to this information..
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Compiled by (C) L.M.Sweger      UpDated  September 2025
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&