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swan

Large water bird, with a long slender neck and webbed feet, closely related to ducks and geese. The four species of swan found in the northern hemisphere are white; the three species found in the southern hemisphere are all or partly black. The male (cob) and female (pen) are similar in appearance, and they usually pair for life. They nest on or near water in every continent, except Africa and Antarctica. Swans produce a clutch of 4–6 greenish coloured eggs and their young are known as cygnets. Cygnets are covered with a grey down and only become fully feathered and able to fly after 14–16 weeks.

Swans feed mainly on aquatic plants. They are among the largest and heaviest birds that can fly and because of this require large areas of water to take off. They fly with a slow, graceful wing beat and when migrating, fly in a distinctive V-shaped flock.

In England the swan is a royal bird, as it was once highly valued as food. On the Thames, at the annual ‘swan-upping’, the cygnets are still marked on the beak as either the property of the crown or of the two privileged City of London companies, the Dyers and Vintners.

The mute swan is the most common species. It is native to northern Europe and Asia, but has been introduced and is now widespread in North America. The mute swan has white feathers, black legs and a bright orange flattened bill with a black knob on the upper bill, near the eyes. It may be as long as 150 cm/5 ft in length and weigh as much as 14 kg/30 lb. It hisses loudly when angry.

Classification

Swans belong to animal phylum Chordata, class Aves (birds), order Anseriformes, family Anatidae. They belong to the genus Cygnus. There are seven species: the mute swan (Cygnus olor), the whooper swan (C. cygnus), Bewick's swan (C. bewicki ), the tundra (whistling) swan (C. columbianus), the North American trumpeter swan (C. buccinator ), the black swan of Australia (C. atratus), and the South American black-necked swan (C. melanocoryphus). The North American trumpeter swan is the largest, with a wingspan of 2.4 m/8 ft.

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