Cobs and Pens, or Young Adults? - Wildlife questions - Wildlife - The RSPB Community Cobs and Pens, or Young Adults? Wildlife Cobs and Pens, or Young Adults? This question is answered on 9 Apr 2011 2:11 AM I was feeding the swans today in my local park (which I think is technically against the byelaws, but hey ho...) and I got to wondering about the difference between males and females. I know that males have a bigger "nobble" (possibly not the technical term) on their beaks, but I noticed that the ones with the smaller nobble also had less bright beaks and some of them were also more brownish or tan coloured, more like a cygnet. Would they have been females, or younger adults? I've posted a photo so you can see what I mean (though please ignore my nobbly knees...). The second swan head from the right has a much duller beak than some of the others, though (s)he is white. The swan standing next to the bike handlebars has both a dull beak and brownish feathers.

BB You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Verified Answer Verified by Badgerbread Hi Badgerbread, The mute swans with brownish, mixed plumage and dull beaks are immature birds - they won't pair off and breed for some time yet. Even with full white plumage and a dull beak, it's still an immature. The "nobble" on top of the bill is often known as the "berry". Sometimes the berry on a mature female can look almost as big as one on a male, and I find it very hard to tell mature females from young un-paired-off mature males like that. With a pair, it's a bit easier. The cob is a bit larger than the pen, but you have to study hard and see them in a position where you can compare their bodies. If they're out of the water, the cob will have noticeably bigger feet than his mate - much easier to tell. He also stands taller at the "shoulder". If you hear them calling (snorts etc), the cob has a deeper voice.

Perhaps you're breaking a byelaw by feeding them, but if you must feed them, give them grain instead of bread - wheat, barley, millet, which one doesn't matter. As well as their own health, a poor diet affects their ability to produce eggs - not enough calcium for the shells, etc etc. :-) Andy You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. All Replies Verified by Badgerbread Hi Badgerbread, The mute swans with brownish, mixed plumage and dull beaks are immature birds - they won't pair off and breed for some time yet. Even with full white plumage and a dull beak, it's still an immature. The "nobble" on top of the bill is often known as the "berry". Sometimes the berry on a mature female can look almost as big as one on a male, and I find it very hard to tell mature females from young un-paired-off mature males like that. With a pair, it's a bit easier. The cob is a bit larger than the pen, but you have to study hard and see them in a position where you can compare their bodies.

If they're out of the water, the cob will have noticeably bigger feet than his mate - much easier to tell. He also stands taller at the "shoulder". If you hear them calling (snorts etc), the cob has a deeper voice. Perhaps you're breaking a byelaw by feeding them, but if you must feed them, give them grain instead of bread - wheat, barley, millet, which one doesn't matter. As well as their own health, a poor diet affects their ability to produce eggs - not enough calcium for the shells, etc etc. :-) Andy You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Posted by Anonymous You were brave!!!!! Pip x You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Posted by Anonymous on 9 Apr 2011 8:36 PM Hi Badgerbread There are some immature birds ie cygnets they take a good couple of years to mature....noted in your photo. Others are mature birds - The adult Male Mute Swans have a more prominent orange bill when it is breeding time.

You are right in saying that the nobble on the male Mute Swans Bill is more prominent than the Female bird...more so at breeding time. BB: Just feed your Swans and ducks with Swan food {bought from the pet stores} and keep away from all the bread, scones, sugar products and other byeproducts which cause harm to the birds digestive system. Harm meaning the birds get Angel wing and that is a serious issue Regards Kathy and Dave You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. on 11 Apr 2011 1:39 AM Thanks for the answers and the advice. I knew that bread probably wasn't the best stuff to give them, but wasn't sure what the better alternatives would be. My local shops don't seem to have swan or duck food. The place where I get my bird seed online has something called "poultry corn" which is a mixture of wheat and maize - would that be ok? And would it be ok to give the swans the stuff I feed my garden birds?

It is (apparently) a mixture of sunflower hearts, naked oats, cut maize, peanut granules, safflower and white and red millet. Sorry if I'm being thick; not sure what the difference is between grain and seed (not much agriculture around when I was growing up in inner city London!). BB You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Posted by Anonymous It looked a lovely day for feeding the Swans. Andrew You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. If that's you in the photo, then I agree with Pipit. I would never get that close to adult Mute swans. You have a good answer from Jackdaw about feeding there, and it applies equally well to all of the birds on the lake. Ass Jackdaw said, it doesn't matter what grain, so whatever you feed your garden birds will do the trick. I wouldn't buy poultry corn specially, but maybe a cheaper mixture, if the one that you use in your garden is a premium blend. You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

on 11 Apr 2011 8:37 AM Badgerbread Sorry if I'm being thick; not sure what the difference is between grain and seed (not much agriculture around when I was growing up in inner city London!). BB Hi Badgerbread, "Grain" is only another type of seed - but specialised - usually the varieties of grass grown as staple foods for people. :-) Andy You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. The bravery was more by accident than design - I just got kind of surrounded! BB Hi Bb, I honestly don't think they will hurt you in that situation - it's cupboard love! - but the important thing is not to panic. If you want to move away, do it very slowly and carefully so they have time to see what you're doing and get out of your path. Any sudden movement signifies a threat to them. :-) Andy You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. © The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Charity registered in England and Wales no 207076, in Scotland no SC037654.

Contact us Terms & conditions EEK! - Critter Corner - The Trumpeter Swan The Trumpeter Swan A big, beautiful, white bird Snow-white trumpeter swans are a spectacular sight. With a wingspan of more than 7 feet and a height of about 4 feet, the trumpeter swan is the largest native waterfowl species in North America. Trumpeters have broad, flat bills with fine tooth-like notches along the edges. This helps them strain aquatic plants and water as they feed. The birds' long necks and strong feet allow them to uproot plants in water up to 4 feet deep. They weigh between 21-30 pounds. Do you know the name for a male swan? The male swan is called a cob, the female is a pen; and a young swan in its first year of life is called a cygnet or juvenile. Trumpeter look-alikes The trumpeter is often confused with the more common tundra swan , the only other native swan found routinely in North America. Tundra swans can be seen in Wisconsin only during spring and fall migration. So how can you tell them apart? Look for the following. Trumpeter.

The trumpeter swan has a deep, loud trumpet-like call. Tundra. The tundra swan has a high-pitched, quavering call that sounds more like a Canada goose. Both swans are white with black bills which makes it pretty tough to tell them apart, but there are some differences. If you look at a side view of the two birds, you'll notice that the tundra swan's bill is slightly dish-shaped and smaller in proportion to its smoothly rounded head. The bill of the trumpeter looks heavy and somewhat wedge-shaped in proportion to its large, angular head. The best way to tell them apart is by their calls. There's another swan that can be confused with the trumpeter and that is the mute swan. This bird is not native to North America. European immigrants brought it to this country. It is found commonly along the East Coast of the United States and in scattered locations in the Midwest. The mute swan is considered to be an undesirable non-native species that harasses native waterfowl (ducks and geese) and uproots large amounts of aquatic vegetation.

The mute swan is easily told apart from other swans by its orange bill and the prominent black, fleshy knob extending from the base of its bill to its forehead. Trumpeter habits and habitats Trumpeter swans may form pair bonds and nest as early as their second winter. But most nest when they are 3-6 years old. They mate for life and may live for 20 years or more. If one member of a pair dies, the survivor finds another mate. Swans usually form pair bonds on their winter grounds. The pair migrates north in the spring to nest and sometimes arrives on the breeding grounds before the ice melts. Pairs may select a nesting spot that is the same as where the pen (female) was born. The female chooses the nest and the cob (male) defends it. If a pair spends at least two summers nesting at the same spot, it will form an almost unbreakable attachment to the site. Large, shallow wetlands, 1-3 feet deep, with a mix of vegetation and open water offer ideal swan nesting habitat.

These locations provide the swans with underwater food like sago pondweed and water milfoil, as well as emergent (plants that stick out of the water) plants like arrowhead , bur reed, bulrush, sedges, and wild rice. Nest building begins in mid-April and lasts 1-2 weeks. Nests may reach diameters of 6 feet or more. That's quite a nest! Trumpeters often build their nests on top of muskrat or beaver lodges, or they pile sedges and cattail tubers into mounds. The cob uproots vegetation and gives it to the pen, who piles it high. Then she uses her body to form a depression in the nest for her eggs. The same nest may be used year after year. Nests are usually surrounded by water. Can you guess why this is a good adaptation? It's difficult for many predators to sneak up on the pair. Beginning in late April or early May, the pen lays one off-white egg every other day until she lays between 5-9 eggs. The eggs are pretty big- 4 ï¿½ " long and 3" wide.

The pen incubates the eggs and the cob protects the nest against intruders, including Canada geese . After 33 days of incubation, the young are born, hatching in late May or early June. They only weigh about 7 ounces. After a day or two, they take to the water and start feeding on plants and invertebrates. The cygnets grow fast. They are fully feathered by 9-10 weeks, although they can't fly until they are about 15 weeks old. By this time they weigh about 20 pounds. In late September, the cygnets try out their wings with short flights. This helps them get ready for migrating south just before the temperature reaches freezing. Cygnets stay with their parents through their first winter, migrating back north to the breeding area in the spring. Shortly afterwards, they are driven away by their parents. The young stick together until they're about 2 years old. Then they seek mates and a new life in a remote marsh. Swan history Trumpeter swans were once fairly common throughout most of the northern United States and Canada.

Market hunting and the use of swan skins in powder puffs and feathers in ladies hats rapidly reduced the number of nesting swans during the 19th century. Trumpeters nested in Minnesota and Wisconsin until the 1880s. In Wisconsin, trumpeters may have nested in all but the northeastern forested regions, most likely in large marshes or shallow lakes. By 1900, it was believed that the species had become extinct. Fortunately, a small, nonmigratory population survived in the remote mountain valleys of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. In 1935, the U.S. government established Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Montana to protect the remaining trumpeter swans. With protection at the refuge and in Yellowstone National Park, the swans in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming increased to 640 birds by the late 1950s. In an effort to increase the swan population and improve their chances of survival, some trumpeters were moved to other areas with good swan habitat, including Hennepin Parks in Minnesota.

Forty birds from the Red Rocks Lakes NWR formed the core of the Midwest's restoration effort in the late 1960s. We now know that in the 1930s when the Red Rock Lakes NWR was established, there was also a flock of trumpeter swans that survived in remote parts of Alaska and western Canada. Those flocks have grown a lot and now make up the most secure population of trumpeters in North America. These birds are found in the western United States. In 2012, Wisconsin biologists counted 214 nesting pairs of trumpeters. Swan - definition of swan by The Free Dictionary Swan - definition of swan by The Free Dictionary (swŏn) n. 1. Any of various large waterbirds of the genera Cygnus and Coscoroba of the family Anatidae, having webbed feet, a long slender neck, and usually white plumage. 2. Swan See Cygnus . intr.v. swanned, swan·ning, swans Chiefly British To travel around from place to place: "Swanning around Europe nowadays, are we?" (Jeffrey Archer).

[Middle English, from Old English; see swen- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] swan 2 (swŏn) intr.v. Chiefly Southern US To declare; swear. Used in the phrase I swan as an interjection. See Note at vum . [Probably alteration of dialectal (I) s' warrant, (I) shall warrant.] swan (swɒn) n 1. (Animals) any large aquatic bird of the genera Cygnus and Coscoroba, having a long neck and usually a white plumage: family Anatidae, order Anseriformes 2. (Poetry) rare literary b. (capital when part of a title or epithet): the Swan of Avon (Shakespeare). vb, swans, swanning or swanned (intr; usually foll by around or about) informal to wander idly [Old English; related to Old Norse svanr, Middle Low German swōn] ˈswanˌlike adj (swɒn) n (Placename) a river in SW Western Australia, rising as the Avon northeast of Narrogin and flowing northwest and west to the Indian Ocean below Perth.

Length: about 240 km (150 miles) Swan (swɒn) n (Biography) Sir Joseph Wilson. 1828–1914, English physicist and chemist, who developed the incandescent electric light (1880) independently of Edison swan1 (swɒn) n. 1. any of several large, stately aquatic birds of the goose family, having a long, slender neck and usu. pure-white plumage in the adult. 2. a person of unusual beauty, talent, or excellence. 3. (cap.) the constellation Cygnus. [before 900; Middle English, Old English, c. Old Saxon suan, Old High German swon, Old Norse svanr] swan′like`, adj. (swɒn) v.i. Midland and Southern U.S. Older Use. to swear or declare (used in the phrase I swan). [1775–85, Amer.; probably continuing dial.

(N England) I s'wan, shortening of I shall warrant] swan I will have been swanning you will have been swanning he/she/it will have been swanning we will have been swanning you will have been swanning they will have been swanning Past Perfect Continuous swan - stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult aquatic bird - wading and swimming and diving birds of either fresh or salt water Anatidae , family Anatidae - swimming birds having heavy short-legged bodies and bills with a horny tip: swans; geese; ducks coscoroba - large white South American bird intermediate in some respects between ducks and swans cob - adult male swan Cygnus cygnus , whooper swan , whooper - common Old World swan noted for its whooping call Cygnus columbianus , tundra swan - swan that nests in tundra regions of the New and Old Worlds Cygnus buccinator , trumpeter swan , trumpeter - large pure white wild swan of western North America having a sonorous cry black swan , Cygnus atratus - large Australian swan having black plumage and a red bill swan's

 down - down of the swan Verb 1.

swan - to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; "Before God I swear I am innocent" hold - assert or affirm; "Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good" claim , take - lay claim to; as of an idea; "She took credit for the whole idea" attest - authenticate, affirm to be true, genuine, or correct, as in an official capacity; "I attest this signature" declare - state firmly; "He declared that he was innocent" declare - state emphatically and authoritatively; "He declared that he needed more money to carry out the task he was charged with" protest - affirm or avow formally or solemnly; "The suspect protested his innocence" assure , tell - inform positively and with certainty and confidence; "I tell you that man is a crook!" 2.

swan - move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment; "The gypsies roamed the woods"; "roving vagabonds"; "the wandering Jew"; "The cattle roam across the prairie"; "the laborers drift from one town to the next"; "They rolled from town to town" roam , rove , stray , vagabond , wander , ramble , range , drift , tramp , cast , roll go , locomote , move , travel - change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically; "How fast does your new car go?"; "We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus"; "The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect"; "The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell"; "news travelled fast" gad , gallivant , jazz around - wander aimlessly in search of pleasure drift , err , stray - wander from a direct course or at random; "The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her"; "don't drift from the set course" wander - go via an indirect route or at no set pace; "After dinner, we wandered into town" 3.

swan - sweep majestically; "Airplanes were swanning over the mountains" sail , sweep - move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions; "The diva swept into the room"; "Shreds of paper sailed through the air"; "The searchlights swept across the sky" swan إِوَزٌّ عِرَاقِيّ تَم، أوَز عِراقي лебед B. VI to swan around → pavonearse to swan off to New York → escaparse a Nueva York C. CPD swan dive N (US) = swallow dive swan song N → canto m del cisne swan [ˈswɒn] n (= bird) → cygne m swan n → Schwan m vi (Brit inf) to swan off → abziehen (inf); to swan around New York → in New York herumziehen (inf); to swan around (the house) → zu Hause herumschweben (inf) swan 2.

vi (fam) to swan around → fare la bella vita he swanned off to New York → se n'è andato bellamente a New York swan (swon) noun a large, usually white, water-bird of the duck family, with a long graceful neck. swaan تَم، أوَز عِراقي лебеда cisne labuť der Schwan svane κύκνος cisne luik قو joutsen cygne ברבור हंस, राजहंस, महाकवि labud hattyú angsa svanur cigno 白鳥 백조 gulbė gulbis swan zwaan svane łabędź قو، قازه cisne lebădă лебедь labuť labod labud svan หงส์ kuğu 天鵝 лебідь راج ہنس con thiên nga 天鹅 swan song the last work or performance of eg a poet, musician etc before his death or retirement.

swanesang آخر قِطْعَة يُنْتِجُها الفَنّان قَبْلَ مَوْتِه лебедова песен canto do cisne labutí píseň der Schwanengesang svanesang κύκνειο άσμα canto de cisne (kellegi) luigelaul آخرين كار قبل از مرگ joutsenlaulu chant du cygne שִׁירַת הַבָּרבּוּר अन्तिम कृति labuđi pjev hattyúdal karya terakhir svanasöngur; síðasta verk listamanns canto del cigno 最後の作品 최후의 작품 gulbės giesmė gulbja dziesma karya yang terakhir zwanenzang svanesang łabędzi śpiew له مرګ نه مخکی وروستی کار canto do cisne cântec de lebădă лебединая песнь lab

utia pieseň labodji spev labudova pesma svanesång งานชิ้นสุดท้ายก่อนตาย son eser 最後的詩篇,，絕筆，最後的功業 лебедина пісня کسی شاعر کی آخری تخلیق tác phẩm cuối cùng （诗人，音乐家等的）最后作品 swan The Trumpeter Swan Society Top Ten Threats to Trumpeter Swans Photograph by Jess Lee Our main office receives many e-mail inquiries, and often the questions are similar enough that we thought it best to put a few answers to frequently asked questions here.

However, please feel free to e-mail your questions to us and we will do our best to answer them, or find someone else who might know the answer. Are Trumpeter Swans an endangered species? In the 1960's, when the Federal Endangered Species Act came into being, the Trumpeter Swan was considered for this list. At about the same time, a nesting population of about 2,000 Trumpeters was discovered in Alaska. The species was then taken off the consideration list. However, various states list the Trumpeter as either state-threatened or state-endangered. What is a male swan called, a female swan? A male swan is called a Cob. The female is called a Pen and the young of the year are called cygnets. While male Trumpeters (21-38 pounds) are generally larger, weigh more than female Trumpeters (20-25 pounds), visually distinguishing the sexes is not possible without internal examination of the vent area. However, an observer can tell the sex of each bird of a pair by watching their behavior. It is only the female that incubates the eggs while the male will swim close by to protect the nest from predators.

In mating, the male mounts the female and grasps her neck with his bill. What do Trumpeter Swans eat? Adult swans eat aquatic vegetation, including the leaves, seeds, and roots of many types of pond weeds. In captivity, swans will eat corn and other grains provided. Wild swans have also adapted to field feeding, eating left over grains and vegetables that have been harvested by farmers. How many eggs do Trumpeter Swans lay? They lay, on the average, three to eight eggs. One egg is laid every other day until the clutch is complete. The Pen does not begin incubating until her clutch is complete so that all cygnets will hatch within 24 hours of each other. Only one clutch of eggs is laid per year. The incubation period is approximately 34 days. The swans build their nests out of stems and leaves from plants such as cattails and sedges. Trumpeters often nest on top of muskrat houses or beaver lodges. Will Trumpeter Swans remove the geese from my lake or pond? Only a mature, mated territorial nesting pair of Trumpeters will chase off (they might even kill) geese and other waterfowl in their nesting marsh.

However, this aggressive behavior is usually only exhibited during the nesting season March through October. At other times of the year, the swans will readily flock with the geese. Young swans or two swans of the same sex will not be as aggressive and generally will readily tolerate geese and other waterfowl at any time of year. Captive swans need open water year round and will need to be fed during the winter months which could attract waterfowl. Early in the season, a trained dog may be more effective to chase geese off the lawn. However, once the geese begin nesting, they are protected under Federal Migratory Bird law and may not be harrassed. In order to discourage geese ( and promote healthier wetlands), it is best to keep a good natural buffer around the pond, allow grass to grow long, and plant shrubs. Geese do not like to eat long grass! They love to eat freshly mowed grass. A fence barrier between your lawn and the lake should also discourage them. Geese prefer a clear runway to the pond and a clear view to spot potential predators. Finally, encourage your neighbors not to feed geese! Trumpeter Swan - Red Rock Lakes - U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service Multimedia Gallery These largest of all North American waterfowl measure up to four feet tall, weigh between 20 to 30 pounds, and have a wingspan of up to eight feet. The swans must remain near open water to obtain their preferred diet of aquatic plants. Their staple diet includes waterweed, pondweed, water milfoil, and duck potato. A mature adult will consume up to 20 pounds of wet herbage each day! They also feed occasionally on grain, seeds, freshwater invertebrates, snails, and worms. A very shy bird by nature, the trumpeter swan is the subject of academic study. Rescued from near extinction, trumpeters breeding in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, including Red Rock Lakes, have grown in number from a low of only 200 birds in 1932, to a success of more than 500 in recent years. These birds are joined each winter by an additional 4000 trumpeters from Canada to form the Rocky Mountain population of trumpeter swans. After spring mating, the pair builds a nest. They may select a new site or refurbish their old one.

Favorite sites are on muskrat houses or in broad beds of marsh plants. The swans uproot plants in a large ring and build in the center, leaving plenty of open water all around for good visibility. The nests measure about six to seven feet in diameter at the base and rise one and a half feet above the waterline. Pairs lay their first eggs when they are four to six years of age. In early May, the pen, or female swan, lays from three to nine dull white eggs which measure four and a half inches in length and weigh about 12 ounces. Considerable trumpeting and display by both parents usually accompanies the laying of eggs. The pen incubates them for approximately five weeks. She covers the eggs with grasses when leaving the nest for several short periods of foraging each day. Both parents are somewhat protective of their nesting area and will usually drive off invaders. They conclude a successful defense with loud trumpeting, head bobbing, and raised-wing quivering, with the cob (male) especially defensive and demonstrative. Trumpeter swans require a large, undisturbed territory for successful nesting. If their chosen area is infringed upon repeatedly, they will generally abandon their nest and eggs completely.

Cygnets generally hatch in mid-June and are paddling on the water within a day or two. They feast on insects, crustaceans, and aquatic beetles for their first month, staying close to the parents’ puddling (rapid paddling) which stirs up the bottom morsels. Playful and energetic, the cygnets frequently dash about and dive under the water, uttering their breathy little peeps all the while. Nights are spent on the nest with the parents for the first month of life. Between four to six weeks of age they molt and begin to get a mottled black pattern on their flesh-colored bills. At this time, they begin feeding primarily on herbage. One parent also molts during this time, rendering it flightless for about a month. The other partner often molts later so that one adult is always capable of flight while rearing cygnets. Between September and October, at about age four months, the cygnets begin flying lessons. Weighing over 15 pounds, they flap and run over the water, bouncing and struggling.

They must be capable of flight before the waterways freeze over, and the parent swans urge them on day after day until all of the cygnets attain flight. At about this time, the cygnets begin to trumpet. With upstretched neck, the head held horizontal and the bill partly open, they utter the trumpeting call. Whole families now fly closely together and as autumn progresses, the northern migratory flocks begin descending to their wintering areas. The pen and cob relax their vigilance somewhat, and the sociable interaction of winter begins once again. By their second year, young trumpeters have full adult plumage and coloring, with brown eyes, black legs and feet, and a black bill accented with a thin red streak. Winter is a sociable time for trumpeter swans, but in late winter the swan families drift apart. The subadult birds form loose flocks, the migrant birds leave for their summer nesting grounds in Canada and the northern United States, and other pairs return to their nearby nesting territories. The two- to three-year-olds select their lifelong mates, wooing with a ritualized display of slow synchronized swimming, bill-dipping, and blowing in the water.

The continued existence of trumpeter swans in the Yellowstone Region depends in a large part upon the willingness of people to forego development in important swan habitat. Trumpeter swans are extremely sensitive to many human activities and development in or near their habitats. Only a limited amount of suitable habitat exists in the region that is used regularly by trumpeters for breeding and wintering activities. When these areas are disturbed by inappropriate recreational activities, summer home development, or through improper logging or road building practices, the birds will abandon these habitats. Since most of the suitable swan habitat in the region is already occupied, the displaced birds have great difficulty finding new areas. Winter habitat is especially critical and limiting. To survive the severe winters of the Yellowstone Region, the swans choose lakes and streams which contain a suitable food supply of aquatic plants, and more importantly, do not freeze over no matter how far below zero the temperature drops. It is in these limited areas the trumpeters survive the fierce winters.Few water areas in the region supply this type of habitat and once lost, cannot be replaced.

Disturbance by winter recreationists which forces birds off these areas, or human-caused changes in the lakes and streams which allow them to freeze over, places the trumpeters in danger of starvation. These aquatic habitats must be protected for the use of the swans during this critical time of the year. Only through the diligent efforts of the public at large, interested groups, and conservation agencies to protect their habitats can these birds be assured an enduring place in the mountains and forests of the region. Refuge staff conduct occasional wildlife surveys depending on staffing levels and funding. The Refuge conducts two major trumpeter swan aerial surveys covering the tri-state areas of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. These surveys guide the management of the entire Rocky Mountain population of trumpeter swans. Through the years, trumpeter swans relocated from Red Rock Lakes have helped to restore their populations throughout the Midwest and mountain states. Facts About Trumpeter Swan Size: Adult 54–65 in, 25lbs average weight Food: Dabbling while swimming aquatic plants. Habitat: Shallow ponds, marshes, lakes, slow moving rivers. Lifespan: 24 years in wild, up to 33 in captivity.

Nomenclature: Male = Cob; Female = Pen; Young = Cygnet; Group of swans = herd. Swan Lifeline - Mute Swan Mute Swan Cygnus olor The mute swan is the largest and heaviest water bird in the British Isles. The male is known as the cob and the female as the pen. They appear identical but the male is larger, with a slightly longer head and body and wider wing span. The male has a larger knob or berry at the base of the bill. In their natural habitat they can live for 20 years or more. Groups of immature swans and some older birds seeking a new mate or those too old to breed, often congregate in non-breeding flocks, the best known on the Thames are at Hampton, Staines, Windsor and Reading. Pair bonding takes place from the age of two although swans are not generally mature until three years old and may breed at this age if there is a territory available. The size of the territory may be determined by the amount of natural food. In areas where the supply of common duckweed or similar is plentiful pairs may breed in fairly close proximity. Territorial disputes can involve fights to the death - usually by drowning.

A pair of swans will generally remain in the same area for life and paired, provided both swans remain healthy, will stay together. Whilst unlikely to pine to death at the loss of a mate swans will generally go through a period of mourning. There are, however, instances of swans changing partners, usually where a stronger cob takes over. Swans breed in the Spring, laying an egg every other day and only commencing brooding after the clutch is complete. The female has a brood patch and will incubate the eggs for 35-42 days turning the eggs with her bill. The male will keep the eggs warm and protect the nest whilst the female leaves the nest to feed and preen. The whole clutch of eggs generally hatches within a 24 hour period, the cygnets remain on the nest for a further 24 hours and then take to the water. The parents pull up weed and stir up sediment from the river bed for the cygnets. Cygnets are grey when they hatch and gradually turn brown over the first six months at which time they learn to fly. By one year old they are predominantly white but the beak remains grey/pink.

Full white plumage and orange beak come with maturity. Immature and non-breeding swans moult first. Breeding females moult next and when she is fully flighted again the male then moults ensuring that one parent is able to defend the cygnets if necessary. Swans at rest will often tuck one foot up on their back, possibly to dry - this can give rise to speculation that they have an injury. The mute swan is generally believed to have been brought to this country from Turkey by Richard Lionheart. Wealthy Guilds and landowners kept swans in flocks for the table. The only remaining private flock of swans is at Abbotsbury in Dorset. Needless to say they are no longer eaten. Ownership of swans on the River Thames is still held by the Crown, The Worshipful Company of Dyers and The Worshipful Company of Vintners - the annual ceremony of Swan Upping is the traditional time for marking new cygnets. The marking of the beaks has been discontinued and the livery companies now fit a metal ring to the leg. The Queen's swans have no additional ring.

In our immediate area Wendy Hermon and Peter Bayliff of Hampton Swan Rescue have ringing licences and will fit BTO rings and white plastic rings which makes for easy identification and helps with record keeping. Swans, their nests and eggs are protected by law and it is illegal to interfere with them in any way. They may only be removed or handled by recognised groups who should act in the best interest of a sick or injured bird. The mute swan is the largest and heaviest water bird in the British Isles. The male is known as the cob and the female as the pen. They appear identical but the male is larger, with a slightly longer head and body and wider wing span. The male has a larger knob or berry at the base of the bill. In their natural habitat they can live for 20 years or more.

Swan Lifeline, Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1156995, Swan Rescue Headquarters and Treatment Centre, Cuckoo Weir Island, South Meadow Lane, Eton, Berkshire SL4 6SS Telephone: 01753 859 397 Postal address: PO Box 364, Sunbury on Thames TW16 9BH Chairman: Kay Webb 01932 761 176 – 07881 953 431 Patron Sir Michael Parkinson We are entirely funded by donations. Hits: 5422 Web by SafireX The Swan | Order of Bards and Druids Subfamily: Cygninae Species: Whooper, Trumpeter, Tundra, Mute, Black-necked, Black, Berwick, and Coscoroba A male swan is a cob; a female is a pen, and the young are called cygnets. Description Swans are the largest of the aquatic birds, closely related to the Goose. They are known for their grace and beauty and have long been considered ‘ornamental birds’ which float on ponds in zoos, parks, and botanical gardens.

Swans are long necked and web-footed. The most common swan, the Mute Swan, is a large, all white bird with a pink bill that ends in a black knob. The bill of a swan is so sensitive that it serves as an underwater feeler. Swans have the longest neck of any bird, with 23-25 neck vertebrae. Swans have as many as 25,000 feathers. They are long-lived birds, and can live up to twenty years in the wild, even fifty years in captivity! Habitat Swans prefer wetlands and land surrounded by water, where they build their nests on mounds. The Tundra swan builds its nest in the tundra wetlands, where they maintain a territory of one square mile and defend it from other swans. Swans prefer cooler environments and avoid extreme heat. The Tundra and Whooper nest all across northern America, the Arctic Islands and Northern Russia. The Black-necked and Coscoroba are found from Brazil southward. The Black Swan lives in Australia and New Zealand. The Mute Swan resides in Europe.

Diet and Feeding Habits In the wild, swans feed on the starchy roots and tubers of aquatic plants. Their scissor- like bills have cutting edges that can tear at the underwater grasses. They can submerge from ten to twenty seconds at a time, and the Bewick Swans for up to thirty seconds. Due to the length of their long, sinewy necks, the birds can dip their heads by curving their necks into the water, and lay their chins flat on the bottom, continuously swallowing. For deeper waters, the swan will up-end itself to reach the bottom. Swans can also eat grains on the land, but must jerk its head backwards to shake foot into its gullet. Most species of swan are vegetarian, but the Mute Swan has been known to eat fish. Swans have a gland just above their eyes that enables them to drink salt water. The gland removes salt from the water and concentrates it into a solution that is excreted from the nostrils, which the bird can shake its head to clear. In captivity, swans are fed wheat, barley, maize, lettuce, watercress, endive, cabbage, grass, and even biscuits and brown bread.

Mating Swans will both display before mating, then mate for life. They are devoted to each other, and remain together throughout the year. They keep their young with them until they nest again, some staying through a second clutch. If one of a pair of swans dies, the survivor usually takes a new mate, and they form a dedicated pair. Breeding Swans usually mature in two to three years, and breed at around 3-4 years of age. The northern birds do not breed until their fifth or sixth year. Birds kept in captivity take much longer to establish a breeding pair. In their bulky nests, females do most of the egg incubation. The average clutch is about five eggs, but may be as many as ten. Incubation lasts about 30 days. Cygnets first learn to float in the water, then start to fly in about 60-75 days. Swans molt in July and August, when their cygnets are too young to fly. Aggressive Behaviour Swans are powerful birds, they bite, and their beating wings can break a man’s arm. Swans display aggression by lowering their neck, hissing, and rushing forward.

They protect their territories from strangers and other swans, although they will tolerate ducks and smaller fowl. Migration Swans migrate in winter, in flocks of twenty to forty birds. The cygnets travel in their parent’s flock for at least a year, in order to learn the route, where to feed, rest, etc. They have been clocked between 35-50 mph in the air, and prefer to fly at night. They can fly at heights of 28,000 feet, and travel over 2,000 miles, often over sea. Diseases Around half of the young birds who nest in the far North perish on their migration south because they are forced to leave before they are strong enough. Swans are also susceptible to fungal diseases, particularly aspergillosis, parasites, and viruses. Folklore German Tale The Swan Maidens a traditional tale collected by Joseph Jacobs: There was once a hunter who spent his nights stalking deer, setting traps for game, and shooting birds with his bow and arrow. One day, near the lake he heard the whirring of wings in the sky, and took up his bow and arrow, ready to shoot what he thought were ducks.

To his amazement, he saw seven stunning maidens, all clad in white feather robes. They alighted on the banks of the lake, took off their robes, and waded into the lake to bathe. The youngest and smallest of the maidens caught his eye - she was the most beautiful of them all. The hunter crept to the bushes where they’d left their swan robes, and stole the smallest bundle, and hid among the gnarled roots of an old tree. After the maidens had sported in the lake to their heart’s delight, they came ashore to find their robes and be on their way. Alas, there were only six bundles, the smallest one was missing. They searched the lakeshore, the bushes, the woods, but found nothing. At last, near dawn, the elder sisters said with dismay, ‘We must away. It is almost dawn! You must meet your fate, whatever it may be’. Sadly the elder sisters donned their robes and flew away leaving their youngest sister behind, before the sun cracked over the horizon. The young hunter had hid himself well, and watched as the swan maidens searched, never finding his hiding place among the roots of an old tree.

When the six swans flew away, he emerged from his hiding place and approached the beautiful young swan maiden. He had the feather robe held tightly against his chest. Seeing him, the woman begged him to return her property, for she was cold and alone. He handed her his cloak instead, but kept the feather robe, knowing she would fly away and be lost to him if he returned it. He told her that he loved her, and would marry her, and she finally agreed, and he led her home. He hid away the feather robe behind the wainscoting, where his new wife would never find it. The years went by happily enough, and the lovely Swan Maiden produced two extraordinarily beautiful children, a boy and a girl. Their mother loved them with all her heart, but still longed for her sisters, and her freedom. One day, the children were playing hide and seek, and the girl found a new hiding place - behind the wainscoting. There, she discovered a beautiful white robe made of feathers, and forgetting the game, took it to show her mother.

The Swan Maiden gazed at the robe in utter joy, laughing out loud, slipped it over her shoulders, and raised her glorious feathered arms to fly away back to her beloved sisters. But then she looked at her daughter’s puzzled face, and remembered her new family. ‘Tell father that if he wishes to see me again he must find me in the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon’, and raised her arms, and in a dazzling flash of brilliant white, she leapt to the sky and flew away. When the hunter returned from his night’s work the next day, his children told him what had happened, and her last words to her daughter. The forlorn hunter left them to search for their mother, seeking the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. In his travels, he came across an old man who had fallen helpless to the ground. Helping him regain his seat, he tended the elderly man until he felt better. The hunter told man the story of his wife, the Swan Maiden, and asked him if he’d heard of the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The man said, ‘No, but I will ask’, and gave a shrill whistle.

Soon, all the beasts of the forest had assembled before them, for he was the King of Beasts. The old man inquired if they knew the whereabouts of the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The animals looked at each other in puzzlement, for none had heard of this magical land. So the King of Beasts told the hunter, ‘You must seek my brother, the King of Birds. Surely he will know’, and told him where to find his brother. The hunter found the King of Birds, who called for his avian subjects to gather, and asked them the same question, ‘Do you know of the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon?’ None knew, and the Kings of Birds gave the hunter directions to yet another brother, the King of the Fishes. For surely he must know! At the seashore, the hunter found the King of the Fishes, and asked him if he knew the whereabouts of the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The King of Fishes did not know, but obligingly called out over the sea for his subjects to gather, and put the question to them.

None could answer the question, and the forlorn hunter was about to move on, when a dolphin called out from the sea that he knew. The hunter waded into the breakers and met with the dolphin who had swum in as close as he dared. ‘Though I have never seen it, I have heard tale of a Crystal Mountain near the Wild Forest. On top of that mountain in a place called the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon’. Overjoyed, the hunter thanked the Dolphin, and the King of the Fishes, who directed him toward the Wild Forest. Just outside the forest, the hunter found two brothers quarrelling. Spotting him, the hunters approached him and asked him for a favour. ‘What is it?’ inquired the hunter. ‘Can you settle the dispute between us, so that our quarrel does not come to conflict?’ One brother asked. ‘Of course.’ Agreed the hunter. ‘Our father just died,’ explained the other brother, ‘ and left us two treasures.

This cap, which renders the wearer invisible, and these shoes, which will carry you immediately to your destination, no matter how far away.’ He displayed the two items, a golden cap, and a pair of sturdy shoes. ‘As the elder son, I should have the first right of choice.’ One brother declared, ‘No, as the younger, I have the right to my father’s shoes!’ insisted the other. ‘Can you settle our dispute?’ the elder pleaded. The hunter puzzled for a moment, then an idea dawned on him. ‘There is only one way to settle the dispute.’ He pointed to a tree, off in the distance. ‘Race, both of you, to that great oak yonder. Whoever first returns to me, shall have first choice, and I will hand him his prize.’ And the hunter took up the cap and the shoes in his hands. Both brothers were pleased to agree and anxious to begin the race. ‘GO!’ cried the hunter, and they were off. As soon as their backs were turned, however, the clever hunter placed the cap upon his own head, and the shoes up his feet.

He whispered to the shoes, ‘Take me to the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon.’ And off he flew, over seven bends, over seven glens, and over seven mountain moors, until he came at last to the Crystal Mountain. The shoes transported him to the top of the mountain, and he found himself in the Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Taking off his magic apparel, he found someone who ruled this land, and was told, ‘There is a king with seven daughters, swan maidens, who could fly wherever they wish.’ He pointed his way to the castle, and the hunter, knowing this was the land of his wife’s origin, strode to the castle and entered the Great Hall. There sat the king on his wooden throne. The hunter boldly approached the king and said, ‘Greetings, O King. I have come to seek my wife.’ The king asked, ‘Who is she?’ The hunter said, ‘Your youngest daughter.’ And proceeded to tell him how he had discovered her, fallen in love, and won her as his bride.

Unconvinced, the king laughed, and declared, ‘If you can tell your bride from her six sisters, then I shall believe you.’ The king summoned his seven daughters. When they arrived, they were all dressed alike in their white feathered robes, looking like a bevy of beautiful swans. The hunter looked at them in dismay, but then remembered something, and a gleam came into his eye. ‘May I take each of them by the hand for a moment, for surely then I will know my wife.’ ‘I see no harm in it.’ Agreed the King. Taking the hand of each lovely maiden, whose beautiful face was hidden in the folds of the downy white hoods, at last he felt one that he knew to be his wife. She had sewn the clothing of her children, and his own shirts and trousers for all the years they were together, and the forefinger of her right hand was calloused from the needle. Astonished, the king examined his daughter’s hand. ‘It’s true! And I am a man of my word.’ Whereupon the king sent them off with many a treasure and sent them home.

When they arrived home the happy hunter allowed his wife to keep her snowy feather robes to visit her father and sisters, as long as she promised to always return to him. And so lived happily together ever afterwards. (European Folk and Fairy Tales, no. 12, pp. 98-104) Danish Tale The Ugly Duckling, by Hans Christian Andersen. An awkward young cygnet, is called an ugly duckling by the other young waterfowl in the lake. Seeing his reflection in the watery surface, he can’t help but agree, and hangs his young head in shame. The other birds refuse to play with the pathetic creature, and he is left to himself. At last his mother finds him, and assures him that this phase will pass, and he will grow into the most beautiful bird of all - a magnificent snowy white swan. And as time passes, so he does. This is a familiar tale for every child, reassuring them that beauty is from within, and not a matter of outward appearance. This healing tale has been told for over a century, to children who feel isolated, or that they don’t fit in, teaching them to look within to find their own inner beauty and radiate it.

When their time comes, they will be transformed, and have the grace, beauty and eloquence of a majestic white swan. Native American In Navajo tradition, the Great White Swan can call up the Four Winds. The Great Spirit will use swans to work its will. Australian The aborigines saw the Black Swans as the wives of their All Father. Japan In Ainu folk tales, the swan was an angelic bird who lived in heaven. When the Ainu fought amongst themselves killing all but one boy, the Swan descended from heaven, transformed into a woman, and reared the boy to manhood. She then married him to preserve the Ainu race. India It was the swan that lay the Cosmic Egg on the waters, from which Brahma sprang. The Swan was the vehicle of Brahma’s wife, Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom, Education, and Music. In Hindu tradition, swans represent the perfect union, and the spirit of Brahma. Greek In Greek tradition, the Swan is the symbol of the Muses.

The swan also has erotic connotations - Zeus seduced Leda in the form of a swan, and Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, had a swan-drawn chariot. The swan, as a symbol of music, is also dedicated to Apollo, who was said to transform into a swan. Socrates wrote that the swan sung it’s most beautiful song just before it died, leaving us with the phrase ‘swan song’. The constellation Cygnus, depicts a swan sailing down the Milky Way. Serbia The Vila, Serbian nymphs, take the shape of swans and serpents. Norse The Norse Valkyries often take the shape of swans and they fly, singing, through the air. Russia Swan Maidens were the subject of the Russian composer, Tchaikovsky’s ballet, Swan Lake. England Tradition According to Ted Andrews, in Animal-Speak, ‘The swan is one of the most powerful and ancient of totems. It is one of the oldest names in the English language and has come down unchanged since Anglo Saxon times.’ (page 195) In Britain, Mute Swans are the property of the Crown.

The Crown may grant ‘royalties’ or ownership rights to companies or individuals, where they mark their swan’s bills during the ceremony of ‘swan-upping’. Boat builders used swans as figureheads to bring good luck. Celtic Tradition In Celtic tradition the Swan is associated with deities of healing waters and the sun. They are associated with music, love, purity and the soul. They are shape-shifters, can take human form, and have mastered the elements of water, earth and air. They can always be recognized by the gold or silver chain that hangs around their neck. Among Druids, the Swan represents the soul, and is associated with the Festival of Samhain. The swan aids us in traveling to the Otherworld. Swans are also sacred to Bards, and their skin and feathers were used to make the tugen, the ceremonial Bardic Cloak. Irish tales Swans appear throughout Irish folklore. An Otherworldly bird, they are often the disguise of Fairy Women. At certain times of year, a swan maiden can transform herself back into a human, such as Summer Solstice, Beltaine or Samhain, when the veils between the worlds are thin.

The White Swans of the Wilderness were children of the Tuatha de Danaan, who settled Ireland, and became the sidhe after the invasion of the Milesians. The night Cuchulainn was born, a pair of swans wearing Otherworldly silver chains attacked Emain Macha. In a later tale, the Princess Derbforgaill fell in love with Cuchulainn, and transformed herself and her maidens into swans to be near him. A hunter by nature, he threw a stone at one, none other than Derbforgaill herself, and brought her down. She transformed back into a woman, and lay bleeding at his feet. Cuchulainn restored her, sucking some of her blood, which rendered him unable to take her as his bride. She subsequently married his son. In The Dream of Angus Og, the young God fell in love with a woman he saw in his dream, named Caer. So great is his longing for her, that he grew ill. He set out to search for her, and discovered that she is no dream, but a mortal woman under enchantment.

She and her sisters are transformed into swans at Samhain, and must remain so for six months, until Beltain. Angus found her at Loch Gel Dracon, where the transformation took place. When he arrived, there were 150 swans, all with Otherworldly silver chains around their necks, and he could not distinguish Caer from the others. Cuchulainn then called out to her, changing into a swan himself. In that shape, he recognized his beloved, and they flew off together, chanting such ethereal music that all who heard it fell into unconsciousness for three days and nights. He brought her home to Brugh na Boinne (Newgrange). The Children of Lir is the most marvelous swan tale of all. An Irish princess’s four brothers were condemned to live as swans for eternity by their jealous step mother, Aoifa, the wife of King Lir. The princess’s only hope is to remain mute for seven years while she wove four shirts of flax for her brothers, which will break the enchantment. There are several variations of this tale.

In another variation, they were swans for 900 years, and when they were transformed back to humans, upon being baptized by St. Kernoc, the priest of the new religion, and they fell to the earth dead (but their souls were saved). Native American Tradition According to Jamie Sams and David Carson, who collected Native American tales from elders in the Choctaw, Lakota, Seneca, Aztec, Yaqui, Cheyenne, Cherokee, Iroquois, and Mayan traditions, Swans represented ‘Grace’. Swan tells Dragonfly in legend, ‘I learned to surrender my body to the power of Spirit and was taken to where the future lives. I saw many wonders high on Sacred Mountains and because of my faith and my acceptance I have been changed. I have learned to accept the state of grace.’ Swan is the bird who may enter the Dreamtime and bring back knowledge and healing to the tribe. Swan medicine ‘teaches us to be at one with all planes of consciousness, and to trust in Great Spirit’s protection.’ (Medicine Cards, pages 192-195) Totem The swan is a totem of beauty and grace.

As in the story of the Ugly Duckling, it connotes inner beauty as well. If Swan is your totem animal, you are emotionally sensitive, and empathic towards the feelings of others, and you draw people to you. The pure white swan is a solar symbol, whereas the Australian Black Swan is a nocturnal symbol. The swan, with its long neck, acts as a bridge between the worlds, making it an oracular bird. Being a cool weather bird, its direction is North. Swans are excellent totems for children, those connected to the Fairy Realm, poets, bards, mystics, and dreamers. (Animal Speak, page 196) Healing The swan is master of the elements Earth, Air and Water, and is an excellent guide to the therapeutic powers of these elements. Many healers use a swan feather in smudging and healing ceremonies. A swan feather tied to an instrument such as a harp would be a powerful adjunct to music therapy.

Oracle Pulling the Swan card tells you to ‘accept your ability to know what lies ahead, pay attention to your hunches, gut knowledge, and female intuitive side.’ (Medicine Cards, page 194) Reversed, the Swan card means you are not grounded, not paying attention to your intuition, or the Unseen. The authors suggest that you ‘notice your surroundings, and touch the Earth; be still and focus on one reality or the other - the Dreamtime or the mundane world; stop the clutter in your mind and listen; or focus on a physical activity that will ground you.’(Medicine Cards, page 195) In Celtic lore, pulling the swan card can mean poetic inspiration from the Otherworld. It can also mean an enduring love is entering into your life. Many swan tales have to do with sad partings, separation, and suffering loss with grace. Swan can be a symbol of transformation. Swan often indicates a soul level experience about to commence. Bibliography Celtic Totem Animals, by John Matthews, Red Wheel Press, Boston, MA, 2002 Medicine Cards, by Jamie Sams and David Carson, St.

Martin’s Press, New York, 1999 The Druid Animal Oracle by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm, A Fireside Book, London, 1994 Animal-Speak, the Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small, by Ted Andrews, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, 1994 Sevenwaters Trilogy, (Daughter of the Forest, Son of the Shadows, and Child of the Prophecy) by Juliet Marillier, Tor Fantasy, New York, 2000 (a fiction based on The Children of Lir) European Folk and Fairy Tales, by Joseph Jacobs, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1916, no. 12, pp. 98-104. Symbolic and Mythical Animals, by J. C. Cooper, Aquarian/Thorsons, London, 1992 Swanned - definition of swanned by The Free Dictionary Swanned - definition of swanned by The Free Dictionary (swŏn) n. 1.

Any of various large waterbirds of the genera Cygnus and Coscoroba of the family Anatidae, having webbed feet, a long slender neck, and usually white plumage. 2. Swan See Cygnus . intr.v. swanned, swan·ning, swans Chiefly British To travel around from place to place: "Swanning around Europe nowadays, are we?" (Jeffrey Archer). [Middle English, from Old English; see swen- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] swan 2 (swŏn) intr.v. Chiefly Southern US To declare; swear. Used in the phrase I swan as an interjection. See Note at vum . [Probably alteration of dialectal (I) s' warrant, (I) shall warrant.] swan (swɒn) n 1. (Animals) any large aquatic bird of the genera Cygnus and Coscoroba, having a long neck and usually a white plumage: family Anatidae, order Anseriformes 2. (Poetry) rare literary b. (capital when part of a title or epithet): the Swan of Avon (Shakespeare).

vb, swans, swanning or swanned (intr; usually foll by around or about) informal to wander idly [Old English; related to Old Norse svanr, Middle Low German swōn] ˈswanˌlike adj (swɒn) n (Placename) a river in SW Western Australia, rising as the Avon northeast of Narrogin and flowing northwest and west to the Indian Ocean below Perth. Length: about 240 km (150 miles) Swan (swɒn) n (Biography) Sir Joseph Wilson. 1828–1914, English physicist and chemist, who developed the incandescent electric light (1880) independently of Edison swan1 (swɒn) n. 1. any of several large, stately aquatic birds of the goose family, having a long, slender neck and usu. pure-white plumage in the adult. 2. a person of unusual beauty, talent, or excellence. 3. (cap.) the constellation Cygnus. [before 900; Middle English, Old English, c.

Old Saxon suan, Old High German swon, Old Norse svanr] swan′like`, adj. (swɒn) v.i. Midland and Southern U.S. Older Use. to swear or declare (used in the phrase I swan). [1775–85, Amer.; probably continuing dial.

(N England) I s'wan, shortening of I shall warrant] swan I will have been swanning you will have been swanning he/she/it will have been swanning we will have been swanning you will have been swanning they will have been swanning Past Perfect Continuous swan - stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult aquatic bird - wading and swimming and diving birds of either fresh or salt water Anatidae , family Anatidae - swimming birds having heavy short-legged bodies and bills with a horny tip: swans; geese; ducks coscoroba - large white South American bird intermediate in some respects between ducks and swans cob - adult male swan Cygnus cygnus , whooper swan , whooper - common Old World swan noted for its whooping call Cygnus columbianus , tundra swan - swan that nests in tundra regions of the New and Old Worlds Cygnus buccinator , trumpeter swan , trumpeter - large pure white wild swan of western North America having a sonorous cry black swan , Cygnus atratus - large Australian swan having black plumage and a red bill swan's

 down - down of the swan Verb 1.

swan - to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; "Before God I swear I am innocent" hold - assert or affirm; "Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good" claim , take - lay claim to; as of an idea; "She took credit for the whole idea" attest - authenticate, affirm to be true, genuine, or correct, as in an official capacity; "I attest this signature" declare - state firmly; "He declared that he was innocent" declare - state emphatically and authoritatively; "He declared that he needed more money to carry out the task he was charged with" protest - affirm or avow formally or solemnly; "The suspect protested his innocence" assure , tell - inform positively and with certainty and confidence; "I tell you that man is a crook!" 2.

swan - move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment; "The gypsies roamed the woods"; "roving vagabonds"; "the wandering Jew"; "The cattle roam across the prairie"; "the laborers drift from one town to the next"; "They rolled from town to town" roam , rove , stray , vagabond , wander , ramble , range , drift , tramp , cast , roll go , locomote , move , travel - change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically; "How fast does your new car go?"; "We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus"; "The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect"; "The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell"; "news travelled fast" gad , gallivant , jazz around - wander aimlessly in search of pleasure drift , err , stray - wander from a direct course or at random; "The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her"; "don't drift from the set course" wander - go via an indirect route or at no set pace; "After dinner, we wandered into town" 3.

swan - sweep majestically; "Airplanes were swanning over the mountains" sail , sweep - move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions; "The diva swept into the room"; "Shreds of paper sailed through the air"; "The searchlights swept across the sky" swan إِوَزٌّ عِرَاقِيّ تَم، أوَز عِراقي лебед B. VI to swan around → pavonearse to swan off to New York → escaparse a Nueva York C. CPD swan dive N (US) = swallow dive swan song N → canto m del cisne swan [ˈswɒn] n (= bird) → cygne m swan n → Schwan m vi (Brit inf) to swan off → abziehen (inf); to swan around New York → in New York herumziehen (inf); to swan around (the house) → zu Hause herumschweben (inf) swan 2.

vi (fam) to swan around → fare la bella vita he swanned off to New York → se n'è andato bellamente a New York swan (swon) noun a large, usually white, water-bird of the duck family, with a long graceful neck. swaan تَم، أوَز عِراقي лебеда cisne labuť der Schwan svane κύκνος cisne luik قو joutsen cygne ברבור हंस, राजहंस, महाकवि labud hattyú angsa svanur cigno 白鳥 백조 gulbė gulbis swan zwaan svane łabędź قو، قازه cisne lebădă лебедь labuť labod labud svan หงส์ kuğu 天鵝 лебідь راج ہنس con thiên nga 天鹅 swan song the last work or performance of eg a poet, musician etc before his death or retirement.

swanesang آخر قِطْعَة يُنْتِجُها الفَنّان قَبْلَ مَوْتِه лебедова песен canto do cisne labutí píseň der Schwanengesang svanesang κύκνειο άσμα canto de cisne (kellegi) luigelaul آخرين كار قبل از مرگ joutsenlaulu chant du cygne שִׁירַת הַבָּרבּוּר अन्तिम कृति labuđi pjev hattyúdal karya terakhir svanasöngur; síðasta verk listamanns canto del cigno 最後の作品 최후의 작품 gulbės giesmė gulbja dziesma karya yang terakhir zwanenzang svanesang łabędzi śpiew له مرګ نه مخکی وروستی کار canto do cisne cântec de lebădă лебединая песнь lab

utia pieseň labodji spev labudova pesma svanesång งานชิ้นสุดท้ายก่อนตาย son eser 最後的詩篇,，絕筆，最後的功業 лебедина пісня کسی شاعر کی آخری تخلیق tác phẩm cuối cùng （诗人，音乐家等的）最后作品 swan The RSPB: Mute swan: Breeding Mute swan Image: Michael W Richards The male and the female birds, the cob and pen, usually attempt to mate for life, although it is not true to say that if one of the birds were to die the other would necessarily pine away.

It is possible for an adult bird to find an alternative mate. The nest is a huge mound of material, normally dried grasses and assorted vegetation, sticks and rushes, constructed at the water's edge. The nest is built by the female, while the male supplies the materials. The female lays up to seven eggs between late April and early May. Both sexes incubate the eggs, which hatch after 35-41 days. The young birds, or cygnets, sometimes ride on their parents' backs and remain with the adult birds for four or five months. Cygnets are generally dingy brown above and whitish below. Occasionally' cygnets may be all white and are known as 'Polish swans'. The young of some pairs are driven off the breeding territory as soon as their plumage is predominantly white (during late autumn or winter). Other broods often accompany their parents to the wintering area, and usually join a large flock in which they remain when the parents return to their breeding territory. Young birds will not generally breed for the first two years of adult life. The oldest ringed wild mute swan was 15 years old. Bird guide

Question: The male is a cob, the female a pen, & the young a cygnet: which bird are we talking about?
Answer: Swans