I think the swan is possibly the most elegant of all birds. The beautiful snowy feathers and long graceful neck have created a picture that many artists have worked hard to recreate. There are logos, associations, organizations, home décor and more, all inspired by their beauty.
The adult male is called a cob. He is both a devoted father and husband. He has been known to use a blow from the “knucklebone” of his wing to defend his family. His blow is said to be strong enough to break a man’s arm!
- The Mute Swan is perhaps the noisiest of all swans having eight different sounds in its repertoire
- Swans can fly as fast as 50 to 60 miles per hour. Some have a wing span of 10 feet.
- A baby swan or cygnet has a grey feathered coat until it reaches about 20 pounds. Then it too will become snowy white like its parents. A baby swan pecks at the inside of the egg for 24 hours prior to making its entrance.
- The female swan is referred to as a pen. Their regal beauty is one of the reasons for the swan to be considered as a royal bird in England and all swans found in the open waters belong to the crown.
- A mother swan has a sound similar to a yipping puppy, which it uses to call the young to her.
- Swans are the largest known flying bird. They are not known to attack humans without cause, and actually can remember humans that have been kind to them
- They dine off of aquatic vegetation, insects, tiny fish and tadpoles. Because they are able to reach far below the water’s surface, they have actually broken plants apart and left them floating on the water which enables smaller birds to find ready food.
- Their life expectancy in a protected environment is as long as 30 years.
- Swans are another of the many marvels created by God.
- They have inspired art, music, literature and dance.
- Read more: http://scienceray.com/biology/zoology/some-little-known-facts-about-swans/#ixzz2XRjRL600
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