Mute swan

Mute Swans have been introduced from the Old World and are now breeding in several cattail marshes in southern Ontario.

Mute Swan

They build massive nesting platforms with a ramp leading down to the water.

Mute Swan

This is a large swan that carries its head on an S-shaped neck and in the adult has an orange bill with a conspicuous knob on it: on the immatures the black knob is missing and the bill is grayish purple.

Mute Swans

Some cygnets have white down and others gray (even in the same family); they accompany the adults for several months.

Mute Swan family

Mute Swan