Huge, white, long-necked, short-legged, water bird. Elegant on water, heavy and waddling on land. Flight powerful and direct, with loud humming or throbbing sound from wings.

Few birds are so visible at such great range, and that may be part of the reason why swans are so large and white. No need for a song: visibility acts as a territorial statement in itself. Mutes are the largest swans, but also the most approachable, in many areas effectively semi-domesticated.