The mute swan and whooper swan are both large, elegant white waterbirds and rank among the largest bird species in the UK.
Mute swans are resident birds, found across the country year-round. In contrast, whooper swans are winter visitors, arriving in October from Iceland and departing again in April, though a few pairs do breed in the very north and remain throughout the year.
Mute swans tend to be seen in pairs or small groups, whereas whooper swans will form flocks sometimes with other waterfowl
Mute swan
S-shaped neck
1 of 3 Large black knob 2 of 3 Orange bill 3 of 3The easiest way to distinguish the two swans is by looking at their bills. The mute swan has an orange bill with a black tip, known as a nail, and a prominent black bump, called a basal knob, at the base of its bill between the eyes.
Mute swans have long necks that they typically hold in a graceful S-shape, whereas whooper swans usually hold their necks straight and upright.
Whooper swan
In contrast, the whooper swan has a straight black bill with a distinctive yellow base that shows a variable pattern.
Another key difference is their flight behaviour. While the mute swan is generally silent in flight, the whooper swan produces a loud honking or trumpeting call.
