The mute swan oddly enough is not actually mute. It makes a lower muffled sound which isn't heard as loudly as some of the other swan species. Although, when it takes flight, the wings of the mute swan make a sound that can be heard from farther distances than other swans. They also have a greater overall mass making the mute swans one of the heaviest flying birds. Although my photos of them are in Galway city in Ireland, mute swans can be found throughout Europe, western Asia and even in parts of northern Africa.
When it's young, the mute swan is grey. At this stage, it's called a cygnet. When the cygnet grows to maturity, it is white in color with an orange bill and a black knob on its top bill that reaches towards its head.
I felt surprised to see a swan in the middle of the city. I couldn't believe it! It was so curious and also exciting to cross the bridge that people walk over and cars drive on, and just beneath the bridge in Galway's Lough Corrib (which is Irish for Lake Corrib), there was a swan floating along so gracefully.
