- The swan has a large and strong beak, a long neck, and are noted for their graceful movements when swimming.
- The swans’ close relatives include the geese and ducks.
- Swans are stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird belonging to family Cygnus, with very long neck and usually white plumage.
- There are six or seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered one of the true swans.
- Swans usually mate for life, though ‘divorce’ does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure.
- The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.
- The word swan is derived from Old English swan, akin to the German Schwan and Dutch zwaan and Swedish svan, in turn derived fromIndo-European root *swen (to sound, to sing).
- Young swans are known as swanlings or as cygnets.
- The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft).
- The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs.
