Mute Swan ♂ (Cygnus olor) (08/02/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea. This is a male (called a "Cob") as he's got a large knob on his bill (termed a "blackberry" in swan-lingo). He also has a deeply orange bill, females' tend to be paler.
Mute Swan ♀︎ (Cygnus olor) (09/08/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in Adur river accessed via field out the back of the garden). This is a female (termed a "Pen") as she's a smaller knob on her bill - males' are larger. Females also tend to have paler/pinker bills, males more deeply orange.
Mute Swans ♂ and ♀︎ (Cygnus olor) (26/12/2004) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in Adur river accessed via field out the back of the garden). Now you can see the difference: the Pen (female) on the left with the smaller beak knob and paler bill, the Cob (male) on the right has a larger knob and a slightly deeper-coloured bill, although this is out of the breeding season. He is also larger than her. They mate for life so this pair could have been together for a few years!
Mute Swan ♀︎ (Cygnus olor) (09/08/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in Adur river accessed via field out the back of the garden). A pen (female) - note the salmon coloured bill with the small knob atop, cobs (males) deeper orange bill with a large knob atop.
Mute Swan ♀︎ (Cygnus olor) (09/08/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in Adur river accessed via field out the back of the garden). A female.
Mute Swan ♂ (Cygnus olor) (28/01/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea. Note the deeper orange bill (paler in the non-breeding season) and the large knob atop - they tend to get larger during the breeding-season.
Mute Swan ♀︎ (Cygnus olor) (09/08/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in Adur river accessed via field out the back of the garden).
Mute Swan ♂ (Cygnus olor) (28/01/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea. Cobs (males) are generally showier looking and larger than the Pens (females).
Mute Swan ♂ (Cygnus olor) (28/01/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea.
Mute Swan ♂ (Cygnus olor) (08/02/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea.
Mute Swan ♂ (Cygnus olor) (16/10/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea. A handsome-looking male.
Mute Swans ♀︎ (Cygnus olor) (09/08/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning (in Adur river accessed via field out the back of the garden). Two females.
Mute Swan ♂ and ♀︎(Cygnus olor) (08/02/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea. I spect the one on the right is a Cob (male) and on the left the Pen (female) as she is smaller and doesn't have such dark legs.
Mute Swans ♂ (Cygnus olor) (08/02/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea.
Mute Swan ♂ and ♀︎(Cygnus olor) (16/10/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea. Cob (male) left with brighter bill and bigger knob on the bill, Pen (female) on the right.
Mute Swan Juvenile (Cygnus olor) (28/01/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea.
Mute Swans Juvenile (Cygnus olor) (28/01/2006) Widewater Lagoon, Shoreham-by-Sea.
