ID Keys: All white plumage, black lores and black knob, orange bill.
The Mute Swan is an
introduced species, brought from Europe as an "ornamental"
species. Escaped birds have established wild populations in
scattered locations across North America. Populations are generally
increasing, with locally dense populations in the East causing concern about
competition with native waterfowl. The South
Dakota Ornithologist's Union lists the Mute Swan as
"hypothetical" in their 1991 book "The Birds of South
Dakota". A free flying bird observed in 1988 may have been a tame
bird that had escaped.
Habitat
Wide variety of aquatic
habitats, including ponds, lakes, marshes, sloughs, and parks. Even wild
populations are often found in close association with human settlements, but
some are established in remote locations.
Diet
Mostly the seeds, leaves, and roots of aquatic
plants. Will also feed on waste grain, grasses and sedges, insects,
mollusks, and small fish.
Behavior
Feeds in the water by swimming on the
surface, dabbling for food items on the surface, or reaching its head under
water. Will also forage on land.
Breeding
Non-breeder in South Dakota
Song
Generally silent, but does have a variety of
grunts and hisses.
Migration
Status unknown in the state, but northern populations
generally do move south in the fall.
