Wolf Run Studio - Birds
Bill Harrah
Wolf Run Studio
P.O. Box 444
Clifton VA 20124

Phone:
(703) 250-6711
Fax:
(703) 764-9204

 

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DRAWING
INDEX

  AMERICAN KESTREL     BALD EAGLE     BARN OWL     BARRED OWL     EASTERN SCREECH OWL     GREAT HORNED OWL     HARRIS' HAWK     OSPREY     PEREGRINE FALCON     RED-TAILED HAWK     SAW-WHET OWL     TAWNY FROGMOUTHS     CHICKADEE     CARDINAL     HUMMINGBIRD     TUFTED TITMOUSE     NUTHATCH     DOWNY WOODPECKER     RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER     CAROLINA WREN     GREAT EGRETS     PELICAN     CANADA GEESE     MUTE SWAN  
. . . WATERFOWL (Click on an image to see the actual notecard size)
MUTE SWAN
#MTE-400 Notecards Only
Also available in Notecard Assortment Pack #AST-503

Mute swans were originally brought to North America from Europe to populate lakes on private estates in New York. Wild mute swans can now be found along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Virginia and in the Great Lakes region.

The mute swan characteristically swims with its long neck in a graceful s-shaped curve and its bill pointed downward, unlike the more upright posture of other swan species. On its forehead, at the base of its bill, is a prominent black “knob.” Inappropriately named, the mute swan makes a small barking type sound when calling its young and hisses when angry. Occasionally it makes a trumpet-like sound.

Although there are exceptions, mute swans usually mate for life. The pen (female) and the cob (male) share nest building and egg sitting responsibilities. Their large bulky nests, which are three to four feet across, are built near water or on floating vegetation. The nests are made of grasses and reeds and lined with soft down.

Parents often carry small cygnets (young) on their backs. From there, cygnets can quickly move under a parent’s wings for warmth or protection. Offspring are strongly protected by their parents until the following breeding season. Cygnets will normally live with flocks of other immature swans for the next two years. Mute swans have been known to live 50 years in captivity and 19 years in the wild.

Text © 1996 Dianne Harrah, Drawing © 1996 Bill Harrah

Mute Swan pencil drawing

Copyright Notice
Drawings Copyright © 1992-2010 Bill Harrah, Wolf Run Studio (SM), All Rights Reserved. Wolf Run Studio is a service mark of Bill Harrah and has been in continuous use since 1992. All of the images on this website are in tangible form and are fully copyrighted. Each has an invisible digital identification which is traceable through the Digimarc Corporation. Viewers of the Wolf Run Studio website are allowed to browse and print out images for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute copies of images or image files to anyone else for any reason. Images may not be reproduced or used in any form or any manner, or displayed on any website without the express written consent of Bill Harrah.

Text Copyright © 1992-2008 Terry White or Dianne Harrah. Text on this website is used with permission from the authors. Viewers of the Wolf Run Studio website are allowed to browse and print out text for personal, non-commercial use only. Text may not be reproduced or used in any form or any manner without the express written consent of the authors.

Information Accuracy
The information for the written description of each bird has been carefully researched by the authors and is believed to be accurate. New scientific observations, however, could make some information out-of-date. If you are a professional ornithologist, and have new information that you are willing to share, please contact Dianne Harrah .