This species was introduced from Europe, and is expanding its range in North America. Like other swans, plumage is entirely white, but the neck may be stained. The bill is bright orange or salmon colored with a black base and a black knobby growth at the base of the culmen. Unlike other swans, this species often holds its neck in a curve, with the bill pointed downward. The wings are often arched up over the back in an aggressive display. Juveniles are gray-brown overall with a gray bill, which gradually turns pinkish as the birds age.

Length: 142 (cm) Wingspan: 213 (cm)

Voice:

Usually quiet. Occasionally gives various grunts and hisses.

Habitat:

Estuaries, ponds, bogs, slow moving rivers.

Behavior:

Feeding:

Feeds primarily on aquatic plants; occasionally takes amphibians, mollusks, and aquatic insects.