Swans are the largest of the Anatidae (waterfowl) family. There are six swan species, the Black swans (completely black) are native to Australia and the black necked swans (white body and a black neck) are from South America. The swan on this photo is a Mute swan because it has a lump at the base of its bill on the upper mandible which only the black-necked and mute swans have.
A male swan is called a cob, the female a pen and the baby a cygnet. A group of swans is called a bevy or a wedge in flight. Swans mate for life and start breeding after they are about 3 years old. The eggs per clutch ranges between 2-8 and takes about 30-40 days to hatch.
Swans have grayish black legs and feet with webs but there are some species with pink legs, the bill colours differ in species – these from South Africa has an orange and black bill. The swans beaks have serrated edges to help them feed on aquatic plans and animals (small fish, frogs and worms).
The fear of swans is called Cygnophobia or kiknophobia. When provoked they can become quite vicious and there has been reports of a man in Ireland who had his leg broken by one.
The Wild Swans at Coole
BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
The trees are in their autumn beauty,
The woodland paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
Mirrors a still sky;
Upon the brimming water among the stones
Are nine-and-fifty swans.
The nineteenth autumn has come upon me
Since I first made my count;
I saw, before I had well finished,
All suddenly mount
And scatter wheeling in great broken rings
Upon their clamorous wings.
I have looked upon those brilliant creatures,
And now my heart is sore.
All's changed since I, hearing at twilight,
The first time on this shore,
The bell-beat of their wings above my head,
Trod with a lighter tread.
Unwearied still, lover by lover,
They paddle in the cold
Companionable streams or climb the air;
Their hearts have not grown old;
Passion or conquest, wander where they will,
Attend upon them still.
But now they drift on the still water,
Mysterious, beautiful;
Among what rushes will they build,
By what lake's edge or pool
Delight men's eyes when I awake some day
To find they have flown away?
