Is the mute swan a native bird?

THE common or garden swan, the mute swan, is one of Ireland’s most widespread and familiar birds.

Everyone knows them. They can be confused with no other birds, except perhaps the two winter migrant swans —- the whoopers and the increasingly rare Bewick’s swan. But there’s a mystery about mute swans.

They often seem semi-tame. They beg for crusts in park ponds and marinas. And yet people are nervous of them and tell tales of drowned dogs and broken human arms. Are they wild or are they tame? Where did they come from? These are not easy questions to answer. If you turn to the experts they are evasive and somewhat contradictory. David Cabot, writing nearly 20 years ago, said: “Although the history of the Irish mute swans is not fully known, they are thought to have been brought in by English landlords as ornamental species to adorn their private lakes and ponds.” So he is cautiously suggesting they are blow-ins.