Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) The mute swan received its name for its silence (except when it is threatened--then it hisses). This swan is a native of Europe and Asia and was introduced into the United States in New York's Hudson River Valley in the 19th century. Found mainly along the Northeast Atlantic Coast south to Virginia, the mute swan is white with an orange bill that has a black knob at its base. This bird can grow to about fifty (or a little more) inches in height. The females, who breed once a year, lay up to eight greenish gray eggs in nests built of plants and feathers, usually not far from water. The eggs hatch in about five weeks. Many mute swans nest on Assateague. The photo was taken at the edge of Swan Cove on the refuge (map). The mute swans can usually be seen year-round on the refuge.

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