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The Mute Swan is an introduced and invasive species in Canada. The deeply curved neck and prominent black knob at the base of the orange bill readily distinguish this species from the two other native swan species, Tundra Swan and Trumpeter Swan. In Canada, there is one large population of Mute Swan, found mainly along the northern shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario, and a smaller population in southern British Columbia. Intentional introductions and accidental escape of these birds in the late 1880s and early 1900s resulted in a rapidly expanding population in the northeastern United States. The species was first noted in Canada in the mid-1900s and numbers have been increasing since then.
In Canada, all swan species are protected under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act. This makes the Mute Swan one of the few non-native species to be afforded a legal protection in Canada. However, Mute Swans are highly territorial and aggressive towards other swans and waterfowl and can have a negative impact on these species. Furthermore, as the population increases, conflicts with human are increasing. Mute Swans are large, powerful birds capable of causing serious injury to people and pets; permits may be issued to help control these birds. Foraging swans can also uproot entire plants, which reduces food for other native waterfowl and other wildlife. As the Mute Swan spreads throughout the continent, research on its displacement of native waterfowl species and its effects on North America’s wetland habitats will continue. There is no hunting season for Mute Swan in Canada.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.