Habitat for swans. Unique swan bird: species and lifestyle

Since ancient times, people have admired the extraordinary beauty and royal grandeur of swans. It is no coincidence that graceful creatures became the heroes of various fairy tales, myths and legends. Nature endowed swans not only with external splendor, but also with amazing features of behavior and lifestyle. Let's review the most interesting and amazing facts about these wonderful birds.

The size

Swans are the largest waterfowl in Europe. Depending on the species, the body length of adults reaches 120-180 cm, and the weight can reach up to 15 kg. The length of the wings of these birds in a span is about 2-2.4 meters. In case of danger, a swan with a strong wing blow can cause significant harm to the enemy: break a bone and even kill a medium-sized predator.

Long neck

Among the duck family, swans are the owners of the longest neck. At the same time, the black swan is considered the champion among relatives, the cervical region of which consists of 23 vertebrae and reaches half the length of the individual's body. Such an impressive neck size makes it possible for these birds to get food at the depths of water bodies.

Good vision

Swans have excellent eyesight, which helps them find food and avoid enemies, including underwater.

Plumage

Swans are champions in the number of feathers that cover their body. In total they have 25 thousand individual feathers, forming a chic, dense plumage. When molting, the birds lose a lot of feathers there, which for some time they cannot even fly.

Swan down has amazing thermal insulation, which allows birds to endure cold very well. But this property was the reason for their mass extermination in medieval times.

Ornithologists have found that the color of the plumage of swans largely depends on their habitat. As a rule, in warm climatic conditions, the color of birds is darker than in cold ones. Therefore, in the northern regions you can meet perfectly white individuals.

At the tip of the tail, swans have a special gland that secretes fat to lubricate feathers. Thanks to this, birds can swim in the water for a long time without getting wet.

Altitude and airspeed

Due to their dense and warm plumage, swans can fly at a record height for birds. Back in the 60s of the XX century, pilots recorded the flight of several individuals at an altitude exceeding 8200 meters.

Excellent muscles enable amazing birds to overcome flights of a thousand or more kilometers. Swans fly, forming a wedge, which is headed by the strongest individual. The aerodynamic flows created by the pack leader allow other members of the pack to expend less energy. At the same time, swans can reach speeds of up to 80 km / h.

A large body mass prevents the birds from taking off easily, so they have to flap their wings and move their paws for a long time in order to rise to the desired height. For the same reason, swans land only on the water, clumsily slowing down with their paws on its surface.

swan fidelity

Swans, having found their mate, are very attached to each other. Birds are able to recognize each other by their appearance and will never confuse their partner with other individuals. At the same time, swans divide all the “hardships” of family life in half: together they get food, fly, hatch and raise chicks, and take care of each other.

Birds are having a hard time with the death of their partner. Not all individuals after the death of the second half can create a new pair. Often, lonely swans leave the flock forever and live out their time in terrible anguish and suffering. There are cases when faithful birds, having lost a partner, committed suicide by falling backwards from a great height.

The ability of swans to remain faithful to their partner throughout their lives is admired by people. It is no coincidence that these birds have become a symbol of true and sincere feelings, pure and mutual love. Many touching poems and songs have been written about swan fidelity.

Swan solidarity

With care, swans treat not only their partner, but also other relatives. In cases of illness of one of the members of the flock, the birds can even postpone the flight until the individual recovers.

Same-sex couples

Studying black swans, ornithologists have witnessed an unusual phenomenon. Males of these birds are capable of forming same-sex unions. In this case, the birds use the female to lay eggs. After that, the males of black swans kick her out and incubate and raise offspring themselves.

Offspring

The female usually lays 4 to 8 eggs which incubates for 35 days. Chicks are born fluffy and, regardless of species, have a gray color that changes only by the third year of the bird's life. Just a few days after birth, swans can swim independently with their parents.

Swans have very friendly and strong "families". After the chicks grow up, they can live with their parents for a very long time.

Superstitions and omens

Since ancient times, swans have been an object of human observation. This explains the appearance of numerous signs and superstitions associated with wonderful birds.

To meet white swans was considered fortunate. To see a flock of white swans in the sky - to the fulfillment of cherished desires. A white swan floating in the sea is a good sign for sailors, a sign of excellent weather.

Meeting with a black swan, on the contrary, according to signs, did not bode well. In England, this bird is considered a symbol of misfortune and misfortune. Meeting with a black swan on the wedding day promised an early widowhood or an unhappy marriage. That is why, in the old days, unfortunate birds were killed, which led to a catastrophic decline in their population.

But the killing of white swans, according to popular belief, threatened the villain with serious health problems, life difficulties, failures in all matters.

According to the behavior of these birds, people predicted the weather. For example, it is believed that if a swan begins to throw its head on its back during the day, then bad weather will come. Birds build nests on hills - expect heavy rains.

• In total, there are 7 species of swans in the world.
• The long life of swans in the natural environment is 25-28 years.
• The black swan is the emblem of Western Australia.
• Whooper swan is recognized as the national bird of Finland.

Swans are rightfully considered the most beautiful birds not only among waterfowl, but also among all others. These truly regal birds with snow-white plumage and a gracefully curved long neck are indispensable heroes of epics, fairy tales and songs. And the ancient astronomers, fascinated by the beauty of this bird, assigned the name of Cygnus to one of the constellations.

In early spring, when water bodies are just beginning to free themselves from the ice cover, swans return to their homeland from warm countries. Their appearance is accompanied by loud, trumpet sounds, which white handsome men talk to each other. Swans are waterfowl, they settle where there are lakes and swamps, arrange their nests on islands, away from people and predatory animals.

Among waterfowl, swans are the largest. Their wingspan reaches two meters, and their weight can reach up to fifteen kilograms. But, despite such a large weight, the swans keep very well in the air and can fly thousands of kilometers during seasonal migrations.

These royal birds usually feed on herbaceous plants, which they get both on land and in water. Their long neck helps to get food from the bottom of water bodies. In addition to various grasses, swans also eat insect larvae, as well as small crustaceans and mollusks.

In family life, swans are distinguished by constancy. Once formed, a couple never part. Swans remember well their nests, which are used for several seasons in a row. Every year they improve and build on their dwelling, which can reach a diameter of two meters.

Only the female is engaged in incubation of eggs during the nesting period, and the male acts as a watchman. If some predator manages to get close to the nest, the swans bravely rush to it and beat it with their wide and strong wings.

Swans feed during the period of incubation of chicks away from the nest. Arriving at the lake, where they meet other swans, snow-white birds necessarily perform a greeting ritual. They swim on the surface of the water, noisily flapping their wings, and screaming loudly. Then the swans move, beautifully arching their long necks. Swan dances on the water leave an unforgettable impression.

Approximately forty days after the start of incubation, chicks covered with gray fluff appear in the nest. The chick is not at all like its snow-white parents, but really resembles the ugly duckling from the famous Andersen fairy tale.

When the chicks grow up, the parents begin to molt. Their beautiful feathers fall out and the birds lose their ability to fly. During this period, swans are especially cautious and shy.

In late autumn, when the first snow is already falling on the ground, the swans gather in flocks and fly away in a beautiful wedge to warm countries until next spring.

All species of swans are listed in the Red Book and hunting for these majestic birds is strictly prohibited.

The swan is called a majestic and graceful bird. It belongs to the order Anseriformes of the duck family. The swan bird is distinguished by its beauty, long lifespan and monogamy. Most of the breeds of these birds are listed in Red Book.

The swan is considered the largest of the waterfowl. His body weight can be up to 15 kg, and the wingspan can reach two meters. The plumage color is not only white, but also black or gray. The beak can be gray or dark yellow, while the mute beak is red.

They are distinguished from other ducks by their long neck, which helps them find food in the water. Their legs are short, so they walk awkwardly. However, these birds fly well. They are migratory and are able to travel long distances. In appearance, the male is difficult to distinguish from the female. They have the same body size, beak shape, neck length and feather color. Both parents take care of the offspring and take care of their chicks for another 1–2 years after birth.

Gallery: types of swans (25 photos)

types of swans

There are only 7 breeds:

• Black. It got its name due to the black color of the feathers. Found mainly in Australia. This species settles in swamps or overgrown lakes, but it can also be found in the zoo. Adults weigh up to 9 kg, and their length reaches 142 cm. Life expectancy in the wild is up to 10 years. By nature, he is very trusting and easy to tame.
• black-necked swan. This species of birds also owes its name to its color. Their head and neck are black in color, while their body is white. There is a red growth on the beak of the black-necked, which is not present in young individuals. An adult can have up to 6.5 kg of body weight and up to 140 cm in length. This breed can be found in South America. He equips nests on small islands or in reeds. Chicks of this breed love to travel on the backs of their parents.
• whooper swan. It emits a characteristic loud cry during the flight. This bird can weigh about 12 kg and reach a length of 150 cm, and the wingspan is sometimes up to 2.6 m. The neck and body are approximately the same size. The beak is yellow with a black tip. Young individuals are gray in color, but then turn white. This breed of swan breeds in the North of Europe and in some parts of Eurasia. It lives on the banks of lakes and rivers. The nest of the whooper swan is made of grass, moss and feathers. A couple forms once and for all life. Lives in captivity for about 30 years.
• mute swan. This species of birds shows its irritation and discontent with a special hissing sound, from which its name came. In England, the mute is considered the royal bird. This is a large breed that can weigh up to 12 kg, and in captivity - up to 15 kg. The color of the plumage is white, and the head is ocher. The beak of this species is red with a marigold. It bends its neck as it swims through the water, unlike other breeds that keep the neck straight. In young individuals up to 3 years old, the color is brown, but then they turn white. The lifespan of a mute swan can be up to 28 years. This species is found in the northern and southern parts of Europe and Asia.

Cages for laying hens and do-it-yourself drawings

• american swan. This breed is the smallest in size. Its weight rarely reaches 10 kg. It looks like a whooper. It lives in the tundra forests of America.
• small swan. Sometimes this breed is also called tundra, as it is found in the tundra of Russia. It resembles the American species in its characteristics. In captivity, lives no more than 20 years. Listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
• trumpeter swan. He got his nickname due to the screams made when communicating with other individuals. This breed is found in Central America. It looks like a whooper, but its beak is black, not yellow. The body weight is up to 13 kg, and the length is up to 180 cm. In captivity, it can live for about 30 years.

The swan bird is a symbol of beauty, tenderness and grace. Thanks to their proud posture, these beautiful creatures are known all over the world and are the constant heroes of a number of fairy tales, legends, legends and modern cartoons. Many species of swans are permanent residents of city ponds, where people feed them. In addition, breeding of swans in captivity has recently been practiced for further maintenance in frequent artificial ponds and reservoirs.

The swan bird is a symbol of beauty, tenderness and grace.

These birds in some regions of the planet are under special protection, so their numbers remain stable. Some species of swans, which were under the threat of extinction, due to the measures taken, were diverted from this dangerous line. Now their numbers are gradually recovering. Thanks to the increased attention from ornithologists, many interesting facts about swans, their life and behavior in the wild have become known to the general public.

Thanks to modern means used to track the movement of wild birds, much more has become known about their distribution sites than even 50 years ago. Not only its appearance, but also its lifestyle depends on where the swan lives. The most numerous northern species tend to be migratory birds. In summer, they are found in the tundra and forest regions of America and Europe. Here, during the period of abundance, they try to breed chicks and fatten.

Some species of these unique birds are actively settled in the middle zone. This largely depends on whether freshwater reservoirs are present in a particular region, which can provide these large birds with the necessary amount of food. Typically, northern varieties of swans migrate to more southern regions for wintering, populating the waters of Africa, India and some outlying islands. Obtaining this information was made possible thanks to sensors that ornithologists involved in the study of the behavior of these birds attached to the paws of individual individuals. It became known that these birds do not always return to the same wintering place as in previous years.

The American swan, when flying away from the northern meadows, tries to find a suitable reservoir in the south, that is, on the California coast and in Florida, where it will be reliably protected from human eyes and predators. This species is under protection, as its population is not too high. The white swan can sometimes winter in the middle lane, inhabiting large urban reservoirs where the water does not freeze. Here the birds rely on regular feeding from humans. The exact criteria for choosing a wintering site are unknown.

Thanks to their proud posture, these beautiful creatures are known all over the world.

Small populations live in Central Asia and northern Africa. In addition, birds are found in New Zealand and Australia. In regions where the air temperature does not drop to critical levels, birds may not make long migrations. They tend to live in tropical swamps and lakes. Usually these birds live in pairs throughout the year, protecting their chosen area from other birds. None of the species of swan will tolerate invaders next to it. They fiercely defend the territory they occupy.

Gallery: swan bird (25 photos)

The most graceful birds (video)

Appearance

Most people from early childhood know what this majestic bird looks like. This is due to the fact that swans have a number of characteristics that distinguish them from other members of the family. Birds are the largest waterfowl found in nature. Depending on the variety, the bird's body length can vary from 1.2 to 1.8 m. The wingspan usually ranges from 2 to 3 m. The weight of a swan, depending on its variety, can range from 5-6 to 8-12 kg. The body is very dense. The wings are strong and wide, which allows them to withstand a fairly large body mass. Considering the description of the swan, special attention is drawn to the long S-shaped neck.

Each species of these waterfowl has its own set of necks. For example, some varieties of these birds hold their necks upright, while others are strongly arched. They need such a long neck for balance. The beak of birds is quite large. It is slightly flattened and wide. Some varieties have a characteristic thickening at the base.

The beak of a swan, depending on its breed, can be pure black, red or yellow, or include a combination of these colors.

Despite the fact that, being on the water surface, these birds look airy and graceful, on the ground they are very clumsy. This is due to the fact that their paws are relatively short and equipped with membranes. This greatly complicates the process of moving on a hard surface. The paws are located so as to facilitate swimming for the swan. Usually the lower limbs are dark in color.

These birds have a rather short tail. Under it is the so-called coccygeal gland. It is present in almost all waterfowl. This gland is necessary for the production of wax fat, which is used by the bird in the future to lubricate its plumage. This treatment makes it waterproof. In most cases, plumage in adults is a solid gray, black or white, but some varieties have combinations of these colors. The plumage of the swan is very soft to the touch, so these birds often became victims of people who wanted to get them. Young growth is easily recognizable, as it has a gray color.

Most people know from early childhood what this majestic bird looks like.

Common types

These birds, depending on the area in which they settle, have acquired specific features. Currently, 7 main varieties of these birds are distinguished, including:

• mute;
• whooper;
• black;
• black-necked;
• American;
• small
• trumpeter.

All of them have their own individual characteristics. It is worth considering the most remarkable characteristics of the most common varieties of these birds. For example, the whooper, which is extremely common in Eurasia, after several molts during puberty, acquires snow-white plumage, dark paws and a bright yellow beak. These creatures are distinguished by a shy disposition and try to stay in the center of the reservoir, away from the shores. These birds are called whoopers due to the fact that they can be easily identified by the loud sounds they make.

Another common species that coexists with whoopers is the mute. Birds have a lot in common. However, muteers always keep their necks in an arched position while swimming, while whoopers always keep their necks upright. In addition, this species has a characteristic knob-like growth at the base of the beak. This white swan usually settles away from humans. They are very fond of solitude and silence.

The black-necked swan has a rather exotic appearance. These birds live only in a limited area in South America. These are very beautiful swans. Their body is covered with snow-white feathers, and their necks and heads are black in color. The black-necked swan looks very contrasting. The picture is complemented by a gray beak with a bright red knobby growth.

The American swan is also notable. It belongs to the smallest representatives of this group. Individuals of this variety of swans usually reach a weight of no more than 5-6 kg. They inhabit mainly the tundra regions of North America. For breeding chicks, they choose quiet remote areas. Only here there are favorable conditions for these animals.

The trumpeter swan deserves special attention. The bird has taken a special path of development, therefore it has a number of differences from its relatives. The trumpeter swan strongly resembles a mute. This is a very large bird, reaching a weight of 13 kg. The body length of such a bird as the trumpeter swan is about 180 cm. A notable feature is the presence of an almost flat black beak without a bump. The trumpeter swan has a very dense plumage, thanks to which it can arrive at nesting sites earlier than many other relatives. Because of their large size, these birds are tasty prey for hunters. In some areas, the trumpeter swan is under special protection.

Whooper swan (video)

swans lifestyle

The main elements for this bird are such elements as air and water. Due to the unique body structure and very dense plumage, these majestic creatures are able to rise to a height of about 8000 m. Swans are monogamous creatures. They spend their whole lives with their partner. If one of the birds in a pair dies, the second can find a new mate, provided that she is young enough. Old individuals can spend the rest of their lives alone. Most species of these birds make long migrations. At the same time, there are those who live settled. Swans, like all waterfowl, consume a wide variety of food that they can get in and around the reservoir. The diet of birds usually includes:

• seaweed;
• roots;
• small water insects;
• frogs;
• small fish;
• crustaceans;
• herbs.

Thus, the swan can be called an omnivore, since it can eat food of both plant and animal origin. Despite the fact that these birds cannot dive to great depths, their long neck helps them to forage. Adult individuals have practically no natural enemies, since birds rarely get ashore, so the attacks of large predatory animals do not pose a danger to them. When birds see a threat, they may take off or jump into the water. Birds of prey, including golden eagles and river ospreys, pose a serious danger to juveniles. A couple defending their territory can be very aggressive. They can easily drive away a fox, fox or marten from the nest. In this case, adults use their large wings and strong beak. A large bird, attacking, can even break a person's arm.

The behavior of swans during the breeding season

Despite the fact that the birds arrive at the nesting sites quite early, their mating games mainly begin at the end of spring, when the temperature is already becoming stable. First, a pair of swans engages in courtship, performing special synchronous movements that allow you to renew an existing relationship. Further, the female swan, having found a secluded place in the sedge, proceeds to build a nest. This place should be large enough so that the female can safely incubate eggs in the future. It can be from 1.5 to 3 m in diameter. A swan's nest can reach a height of 0.8 m. Usually, there are from 3 to 9 eggs in a clutch.

It would be difficult to name birds fanned with more romance and mystery than swans. People have long worshiped them, admiring such qualities of these birds as a majestic and proud appearance, beauty and grace and, of course, the very swan fidelity that is spoken of in legends and sung in songs. For many peoples in ancient times, swans became totem animals.

But what are they - real, not legendary and not fabulous, but quite ordinary earthly swans? And what else, in addition to the features listed above, can these birds be remarkable and interesting?

Description of swans

Swans are large, majestic waterfowl from the duck family, which in turn belongs to the order Anseriformes. Currently, seven species of living swans and ten species of extinct ones are known, and it is possible that they did not become extinct without human intervention. In all species of swans, plumage can only be of achromatic colors - black, gray or white.

Appearance

Swans are considered the largest waterfowl on Earth, their weight reaches 15 kg, and their wingspan is up to two meters. The plumage color can be not only snow-white, but also coal-black, as well as various shades of gray. The color of the beak in most species is gray or dark yellow, and only in the black swan and mute is it red. All species of swans have a characteristic growth above the beak, the color of which depends on the species to which the bird belongs: it can be black, yellow or red.

The main external feature that distinguishes swans from ducks and other birds similar to them is a long neck, which helps the birds to find food in the water. Their paws are short, so on land the swans look far from being as elegant as in the water, and their gait at the same time looks somewhat awkward. But, thanks to the well-developed musculature of the wings, the swan flies well, and in flight it looks almost as impressive as when swimming: it flies, stretching its neck far and cutting through the air with the flapping of strong wings.

A flock of swans migrating south in autumn makes a truly strong impression when it flies over deserted fields and yellowed forests on a foggy and rainy morning, announcing the surroundings with loud, sad cries, as if saying goodbye to their native places until spring.

It is interesting! Swan Lake, located near Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, with snow-white and jet-black majestic birds floating on it, inspired the Russian composer Pyotr Ivanovich Tchaikovsky to write music for the ballet Swan Lake.

Sexual dimorphism in swans is not too pronounced, so it is not so easy to distinguish a male from a female, since they have the same body size, beak shape, their necks are the same length, and the plumage color of males and females of the same species also matches. The chicks of swans, unlike adult birds, are rather plain in appearance and lack the grace of their parents. The color of their down is usually dirty gray in various shades.

Character and lifestyle

They swim majestically, sedately and measuredly, cutting through the water surface, and at the same time their movements are filled with proud leisurelyness. When the swan plunges its head and neck into the water in search of food, its body hangs down after them, so that only the back of the body is visible, resembling from a distance a small pillow crowned with a small tail. Swans living in the wild are very cautious, they do not trust either people or other animals and prefer to stay away from the coast, where danger may await them.

If a real, rather than an imaginary threat looms over them, then the birds prefer to swim away from their enemy through the water, and only if it is not possible to avoid persecution, they scatter across the water, slapping its surface with webbed paws and from time to time waving heavily wings. If this does not help to hide from the predator overtaking them, only then the swans reluctantly rise into the air. When, for some reason, the swan cannot take off, it dives under the water and already tries to avoid the danger.

Birds living in parks and zoos quickly get used to the fact that the attention of visitors is constantly riveted to them. They become trustful of people and favorably agree to accept food from them. Swans are very proud, they do not tolerate the presence of neighbors and, moreover, competitors next to them. An already established couple will desperately defend their territory, not letting anyone else into their possessions.

These birds can be aggressive if someone disturbs the peace and enters their territory. Swans are very strong and in a one-on-one fight with a person they can easily break their enemy’s hand with a blow of the wing, and a powerful and strong beak makes them even more formidable opponents. If they settle close to a person, for example, in gardens or parks, then this means that the birds completely trust people and allow them to approach them in exchange for protection and feeding. Only in this case they can come to terms with the presence of neighbors.

It is interesting! Scientists studying these birds noticed that black swans have the most calm and peaceful disposition. But white mute, on the contrary, can be very cocky and aggressive.

All species of swans are migratory birds. In autumn, they leave their native places to winter on the coast of warm southern seas or non-freezing lakes, and return back in spring. A flock of flying swans, in front of which the leader flies, is called a wedge.

How long do swans live

Swans are considered long-lived birds, and indeed they can live from 20 to 25 years in natural conditions and up to 30 years in captivity. However, the legend, which says that these birds can live up to 150 years, unfortunately, is a fiction that does not correspond to the actual life span of these amazing and truly beautiful creatures.

types of swans

There are currently seven species of swans in the world:

• whooper swan;
• mute swan;
• trumpeter swan;
• small swan;
• American swan;
• black Swan;
• black-necked swan.

Whooper

One of the most common types of swans. These birds nest in the northern part of Eurasia, from Iceland to Sakhalin, and in the south their range extends to the Mongolian steppes and northern Japan. It differs from its other relatives by the trumpet call emitted during the flight, which is carried over long distances. The color of the fluff-rich plumage of whoopers is snow-white. Their bill is lemon yellow with a black tip. Another external feature of these birds is that on the water they do not bend their neck, like other swans, but keep it strictly vertical.

Shipun

Unlike the whooper, which looks similar to it, while swimming, it bends its neck in the form of the Latin letter S, and holds its head obliquely to the surface of the water. Due to the fact that the mute is generally larger and more massive than the whooper, its neck visually looks thicker and at a distance seems shorter than it really is. When flying, the mute does not emit trumpet clicks, but the sound of its large and strong wings dissecting the air, accompanied by a characteristic creak emitted by wide and long flight feathers, can be heard from afar.

It is interesting! This bird is named so because, expressing its displeasure, it emits an evil hiss.

Mute live in the middle and southern regions of Asia and Europe. Their range stretches from the south of Sweden, Denmark and Poland in the west to China and Mongolia in the east. However, even there you can rarely meet these swans, as they are very cautious and distrustful.

Outwardly similar to the whooper, but, unlike the yellow-black beak of the latter, its beak is completely black. Trumpeters are large birds, whose weight reaches 12.5 kg, and body length is 150-180 cm. They live in the North American tundra, their favorite nesting places are large lakes and wide, slowly flowing rivers.

This species, nesting in the tundra of Eurasia, from the Kola Peninsula in the west to the Kolyma in the east, is also called the tundra. It is distinguished from its fellows by the fact that the small swan is much smaller than them in size. Its body length is 115-127 cm, and its weight is about 5-6 kg. The voice of the tundra swan is similar to the voice of the whooper, but at the same time it is somewhat quieter and lower. Its beak is mostly black, only its upper part is yellow. The Lesser Swan likes to settle in open water areas, and, on the contrary, tries to avoid forest reservoirs.

It looks like a small one, only it can be slightly larger than the latter (up to 146 cm) and its neck is slightly shorter and thinner. The color of the beak is almost completely black, except for a pair of small bright yellow spots in its upper part, located on the sides.

It is interesting! The pattern on the beaks of American swans is individual and unique, just like human fingerprints.

Previously, this species was widespread and lived in the North American tundra. But it doesn't happen very often these days. It prefers to winter along the Pacific coast to California in the south and the Atlantic Ocean to Florida. It is also found in Russia: on Anadyr, Chukotka and the Commander Islands.

This bird is distinguished by its almost black plumage, only the flight feathers on its wings are white. In many black swans, individual inner feathers are also white. They show through the upper, black feathers, so that the overall tone from a distance may appear dark gray, and close up, if you look closely, you can see concentric white stripes diverging in the main black color. Even the paws of this species are black, exactly the same as the upper feathers. The beak is a very bright red hue, on its front part there is a white ring.

Black swans are slightly smaller than mute swans: their height ranges from 110 to 140 cm, and their weight is from four to eight kilograms. It has a very long neck, consisting of 32 cervical vertebrae, thanks to which the bird can engage in spearfishing in deeper waters. Unlike a mute, a black swan can make trumpet sounds, calling on its relatives or expressing discontent. They live in Australia and Tasmania. But in Europe, as well as North America, black swans are also found, however, as semi-wild birds that live in parks and reserves.

black-necked swan

It differs from the rest of its relatives in an unusual two-tone plumage color: its head and neck are painted black, while the rest of the body has a snow-white hue. Around the eyes is a narrow white frame in the form of a strip. The beak of these birds is dark gray, at its base there is a large bright red outgrowth. The legs of black-necked swans are light pink. These birds live in South America, from Chile in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south, and fly to Paraguay and Brazil for the winter.

Range, habitats

Most species of swans live in temperate zones and only a few of them can live in the tropics. These birds live in Europe, in some countries of Asia, in America and in Australia. Swans do not live in tropical Asia, in the north of South America and in Africa. On the territory of Russia, they are found in the tundra zones and, much less often, in the forest zone. To the south, their range extends from the Kola Peninsula to the Crimea and from the Kamchatka Peninsula to Central Asia.

It is interesting! Some of the swans have been declared national treasures. For example, whooper in Finland and mute in Denmark. The latter, in addition, in the UK are considered the personal property of the queen, and only members of the royal family are allowed to use the meat of these birds.

The favorite habitats of swans are large lakes, overgrown with reeds and other aquatic vegetation off the coast. Sometimes they can also settle on the sea coast if there are reed thickets nearby. If people treat these birds with respect and not too intrusive, they can settle on ponds near settlements. With a few exceptions, swans are migratory birds. But sometimes they can stay in their nesting places. For example, whoopers sometimes hibernate in the non-freezing straits of the White and Baltic Seas.

Diet of swans

Basically, swans feed on plant foods - roots, stems and shoots of plants, for which they dive, plunging their long neck into the water. Small animals such as frogs, worms, bivalves and small fish are also often their food. On the ground, these birds can pluck grass, as, for example, their distant relatives, geese, do.

It is interesting! White swans are especially gluttonous. The daily amount of food they eat is up to a quarter of the bird's weight.

Finding food for swans, as a rule, is not difficult. However, there may be periods in their life when they have to go on a strict diet, which happens, for example, in case of prolonged bad weather or when the water level rises strongly and the bird cannot reach the plants growing on the bottom. In this case, they can become very thin and weaken. But even a forced hunger strike is not able to force these birds to leave their usual places and go in search of others, more promising in terms of food.