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Juvenile mute swan in Varna, Bulgaria
A young swan strikes a pose
Its name could suggest that it's subject to a vow of silence, but the mute swan isn't actually mute. It's just less loud than the other five species of swans, such as the aptly named trumpeter. This juvenile mute swan was spotted enjoying the sun's glow in Varna, a seaside city in Bulgaria that's known as a destination for migrating swans. Though the bird's "ugly duckling" phase is past, it'll be some time before it sheds its mottled feathers to sport a snow-white coat like its mature fellow swans.
A young swan strikes a pose
Its name could suggest that it's subject to a vow of silence, but the mute swan isn't actually mute. It's just less loud than the other five species of swans, such as the aptly named trumpeter. This juvenile mute swan was spotted enjoying the sun's glow in Varna, a seaside city in Bulgaria that's known as a destination for migrating swans. Though the bird's "ugly duckling" phase is past, it'll be some time before it sheds its mottled feathers to sport a snow-white coat like its mature fellow swans.
The elegance and austere beauty of swans have inspired some of the world's greatest music, art and stories.
© ValentinValkov / Adobe Stock 2026-09-11 08:45:51 :