Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) (3)

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) (3)

Mute swans are predominantly monogamous and form long-lasting breeding pairs. They are extremely aggressive in defending their breeding territory. Before or during landing at a breeding site they will slap the water with their feet to announce their arrival and alert potential intruders. If another swan approaches, members of the pair raise their wings and tuck their neck in a ‘busking’ display to warn them off. Territorial defenses sometimes escalate to fights between males that can end with the dominant bird pushing its rival underwater.

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