Tradition / Region: Lithuanian Mythology
Alternative names: Swan Maiden; Swan, the King’s Wife; Queen Swan
Category: Bird
The Myth
The Swan Queen is a magical woman who can transform between human and swan by wearing or removing her feathered wings. In one tale, an elderly couple discovers that a swan is secretly becoming a beautiful woman to perform the household chores while they are away. They burn her swan wings, leaving her unable to return to her flock, and she remains with them as their adopted daughter.
Later, a king encounters the maiden during a hunt and marries her. They have a child together, but when her swan family flies overhead, they bring her a new set of feathers. Regaining her true form, the Swan Queen transforms back into a swan and flies away, leaving her husband and child behind.
Although she returns from time to time to lull her child to sleep, the king longs to keep her with him. Following the advice of a wise old man, he spreads tar upon the windowsill where she lands. Her wings become trapped, preventing her escape, and she is transformed into a human once more, remaining with her family forever.
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). The Swan Queen. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swan_Queen