Why Are Swans Aggressive? (Can They Break Bones)

Swans are known to be vicious and aggressive towards other birds, animals and even humans. Anecdotes abound about swans breaking people’s arms or killing pet dogs, and these are childhood warnings not to get too close to swans.

But is there any truth to these stories, or are they just old wives’ tales? Does Swan deserve this kind of negative coverage as a violent attacker? If so, why are swans aggressive? Read on to learn more.

Swans—especially males—are highly protective of their nests, cygnets, and their mates. If they feel threatened by any of them, they will hiss and flap their massive wings to warn potential predators. If the threat persists then they will use their powerful wings and beak to attack.

Breeding swan pairs have an especially strong bond, mate for life, and both partners play a vital protective role in raising their cygnets. Three species of swans—whooper, Bewick, and mute—are especially known for being aggressive when their nests are threatened and when they compete for food.

Nest and cygnet territorial defenses are marked by loud hissing, which can quickly escalate into an all-out violent attack, whether on land or in the water, if the swan believes there is a real danger to its young.

Unprovoked attacks by swans are rare, especially outside of the breeding season, but care should always be taken not to bother any wild birds or animals, and approaching wild swans is not advised under any circumstances.

Read on to learn more about how swans defend themselves and how much physical damage an angry swan can inflict when it feels seriously threatened.

Swans are mainly aggressive when close to nests, young and mates

How do swans protect themselves?

To protect themselves and their young, swans initially issue a warning that an attack is imminent unless the “intruder” or potential predator backs off. This includes hissing, flapping the wings, extending the neck upward and spreading the wings in a gesture known as busking.

If this intimidating display of territory isn’t enough to convince the threat to retreat, an all-out attack in the water or on land is likely.

On water, swans will tuck their heads under their wings and propel themselves through the water, feet first toward the threat, usually another bird.

The busker pose can also be seen in swan attacks that take place on land. The swan spreads its wings, spreads and lifts them as high as they can, then runs with its head and neck down towards the threat, while flapping its wings and hissing.

Swans in attack mode will attack threats using their massive wings, which are adapted to combat thickened bony spurs and spikes. This will be accompanied by biting or pulling with their powerful beaks, although since they have no teeth any damage from a swan bite will be minor.

A hissing mute swan mother protects her babies

When do swans become aggressive?

Swans are most aggressive during breeding season and it is best to avoid getting too close to these birds or their nesting grounds between late April and June. Swans attack in response to threats to their mates, young, or nest.

If the threat doesn’t subside after the initial warning signs, it’s not uncommon for a full-scale attack to protect their family.

Hungry swans may exhibit aggressive behavior if food sources are scarce and they need to compete with other birds for food.

Swans and cygnets on the water

Are swans aggressive towards humans?

In theory, swans should not be aggressive towards humans unless they feel their nest and young are in danger. Humans not approaching or confronting swans should have nothing to worry about.

However, news reports exist to support the claim that swans can display aggression toward humans even when they are not actively approaching or disturbing their nesting sites.

One tragic story that made the news was the 2012 attack on a kayaker on a Chicago pond. He drowned after a swan charged into his kayak, knocked him into the water, then prevented him from swimming to shore.

In 2014, boaters and other river users on the River Cam reported repeated attacks by a violent swan, even appealing to the Queen for permission to relocate it to another location.

Occasionally, swans may be aggressive, intimidating, or forceful when seeking food from lakeside visitors feeding waterfowl, especially if the visitors are “playing” with the food or taunting or teasing the swans.

Whooper swans foraging in the grass

What would you do if a swan attacked you?

If you find yourself in the unfortunate and potentially terrifying situation of being attacked by a swan, there are some suggestions to help you escape.

It is not recommended to turn your back on an angry or aggressive swan. Doing so may show the swans that you are indeed a threat and they will continue to chase you away.

The same applies to running; swan behavior experts recommend continuing to face the swan and backing away slowly, while opening your arms as you back up, making yourself look as tall and intimidating as possible, which can be tempting.

Closeup of an angry mute swan

Can a swan’s neck break your arm?

Many adults remain vigilant even long after their childhoods have passed, as they have heard cautionary tales of fearless individuals who were savagely hunted down for getting too close to angry swans, and in the ensuing attacks middle fracture.

In fact, a swan’s body isn’t built to strike with the force necessary to inflict as serious an injury as a broken bone.

Swan bones are hollow and not as strong and muscular as you might think. They weigh 11 kg (24 lb), which is considerable in bird terms, but not as much as an adult.

Children should be kept at a safe distance so as not to inadvertently provoke the conservation swans, and dogs should be kept on a leash.

Any injuries such as broken bones are more likely to have been caused by a fall while fleeing the swan. Wing strikes may cause bruising, but generally, a swan’s wings or neck are not strong enough to cause more serious injuries to adults.

There have indeed been reports of uncontrolled dogs being attacked and killed by protective swans during breeding season, but there have also been other reports of dogs killing swans in unprovoked attacks in general.

It’s a common misconception that swans can break your arms, but in reality, they’re not capable of doing so

Do swans fight to the death?

During the breeding season, male swans have been observed fighting each other to the death when it comes to defending territory. If a particularly violent conflict arises between two male swans (called male swans), one of them may eventually back off and throw in the towel, though it’s not unheard of for such fights to end in death.

Reports of “killer swans” have occasionally attracted media attention, including a mute swan in Wales, known as Mr Nasty, which claimed the lives of at least ten other swans.

A pair of male whooper swans fight for territory in spring

Are swans more aggressive than geese?

Both swans and geese display aggressive behavior towards other birds and humans, especially during breeding season. Geese are noisier aggressors, while swans are intimidating due to their large size and are known to inflict damage on anything they perceive as a threat to their mate or young.

Research by the WWT (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) concluded that geese or swans are actually no more aggressive than any other bird species, although both are very protective of their young if they feel their nesting If the ground is in danger, it will attack.