Swans are closely related to ducks and geese.
Swans are birds of the genus Cygnus, in the family Anatidae, making them close relatives of ducks and geese. These waterfowl originated in the Old World and have since spread to many regions of the world, gathering in lakes, rivers, and streams. Many people perceive their distinctive appearance as quite attractive, giving the birds a special place in folklore.
Black swans, native to Australia and New Zealand, are primarily a species of black swan and can reach a height of 56 inches when fully grown.
These birds have heavy, muscular bodies, large webbed feet, and long, slender necks. They are among the largest and heaviest waterfowl, and their color ranges from pure white to black. While many people associate swans with the color white, those from the southern hemisphere tend to be more brown or mottled, though they share the graceful movement and familiar appearance of their northern hemisphere cousins.
The young of the black swan species, which we are native to Australia, resemble those of other swan species.
Swans are famous for mating for life, although “divorces” sometimes occur, raising offspring of three to eight young, known as swans, until they become adults. The males are known as beaks, while the females are called feathers. The history of swans and man is quite old, as they were domesticated as ornamental and companion birds for centuries in Europe and Asia. In some regions, they were also eaten, with some cultures reserving the meat for royal consumption only.
The birds feed on aquatic plants, which sprout from the bottom of shallow watercourses. This can make them harmful pests as they substantially disturb waterways in search of food. In areas where the swan is not native, imported birds have been known to displace local species, destroying habitat, muddying the water, and scaring away other birds with their large size and ferocity.
Although they appear quite graceful and peaceful from a distance, the birds can be quite ferocious. They are sometimes used as guard animals, like their cousins the geese, and are especially aggressive towards nests and chicks. Since swans are big and strong, they can handle some serious bruising with their heavy wings. The best thing to do when attacked by one is to move away from the area, hoping to get away from the territory the bird is defending.
Some known species include black swans, mute swans, whistling swans, trumpeter swans, and wild swans. As people might guess from some of these colorful common names, some birds make very distinctive and unusual sounds.