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What does the word swan instantly bring to
mind? Long slender neck, right? Swans are graceful, long necked,
heavy-bodied birds, with big feet. They are the largest waterfowl
species of the subfamily Anserinae. They are scientifically
classified in the genus Cygnus. Baby swans are called cygnets. Both
the male (called cobs) and female (known as pens) of the species
look alike. The difference between ducks and geese (which are also
waterfowls) and swans are the length of the necks and legs and other
anatomical differences. Ducks have shorter necks and legs.
Species of swans
There are about seven or eight species of swans. Five of these species are white, have black legs, and are found in the Northern Hemisphere. These include: |
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The mute swan is a very silent bird. Found in Europe and North Asia, it is one of the heaviest birds that is able to fly. Adult mute swans sometimes weigh over forty pounds and their wing span is between seven and eight feet. They get their plumage of stunning white by the time they are two years old. They have orange bills, with a black knob at the base of the bill.
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The whistling swan gets its name from the sound of its voice. It has a black bill that usually has a small yellow spot near the eye.
The whooper swan is a noisy bird that has a black bill with a yellow base.
Bewick's swan is a similar bird that is smaller in size and quieter too.
The trumpeter swan gets its name because of its far-carrying low-pitched call. It also has an all-black bill.
The black swan of Australia and its two pink-legged cousins found in South America are the main species found in the Southern Hemisphere. The black necked swan is a beautiful bird, with a white body, black neck and head and a red fleshy growth on the bill (known as caruncle). The
coscoroba, which is an all-white bird, is considered the smallest variety of swan.
Sounds of swans
Swans utter a variety of sounds from the windpipe, which in some species is looped within the breastbone (as in cranes). Even the mute swan, which is very silent, often hisses, makes soft snoring sounds, or grunts sharply. When they quell enemies, they utter a sharp note of triumph, a feature that they share with their cousin, the goose.
Habits, activities and special features
Swans glide majestically when swimming. They fly with slow wingbeats and with necks outstretched. It is a remarkable sight when they are migrating. They move in either in diagonal formation or in a V-formation at great heights. Among the waterfowls, swans move the fastest, whether on water or in the air.
Swans feed on aquatic plants, which they find by dabbling in shallow waters. They have a tendency to tuck one foot over the back, whether swimming or standing. This is a special feature of the mute swans and the black swans.
Generally, swans are sociable birds. They make an exception only during the mating season. The female incubates about six eggs, on a heap of vegetation. The father protects them fiercely. In some species, the male takes turns in brooding.
Cygnets
Cygnets have short necks and thick down. They are endowed with the strength and capacity to swim and run within a few hours after birth. However, the fierce parents look after them protectively, to the extent that it is not uncommon to see a cygnet piggy-riding on its mother's back for quite some time. They mature in the third or fourth year. Their lifespan is about twenty years in the wild and fifty years in captivity.
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