Whooper swan - have you heard any hissing? (1 Viewer)

[Tobias Mennle]

Hi all,

I was wondering if whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) make hissing sounds when frightened or fighting a predator. Has anyone experienced that? I have watched several attacks of arctic foxes on these swans but was never close enough to hear the sounds involved.

Thanks,

Tobias

 

[Nutcracker]

Don't know myself. I guess your best option would be to find some human-habituated birds (e.g. in Tjörnin pond in Reykjavik), and see how they react if you get very close to their cygnets while feeding them as you would feed Mute Swans elsewhere.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Don't know myself. I guess your best option would be to find some human-habituated birds (e.g. in Tjörnin pond in Reykjavik), and see how they react if you get very close to their cygnets while feeding them as you would feed Mute Swans elsewhere.

Quite a common breeder here and can't say I have heard them hissing, even when approached while with cygnets ...they give the familiar yodelling call whenever I have been in such situation. Also never heard them hissing when spooked by White-tailed Eagles.

Maybe they do hiss on occasion, but at least certainly not with the frequency of Mute Swans.