Did you know that swans are one of the largest birds in the world? Swan can weigh up to 30 pounds and measure 5 feet long from beak to tail. Also, Swans have some pretty unique features, including their long necks, black feathers, and orange beaks. This article will discuss some Swans Facts for Kids.
Do you know an aquatic bird that is absolutely majestic to look at?
Yes, we are talking about swans here. One of Mother Nature’s most beautiful creations is the Swan.
In fairy tales and stories, swans have often been attributed with virtue and are sometimes shown to withstand every vile creature. These birds are often spotted floating in the lakes elegantly.
These charming aquatic birds have so much up to their sleeves. Do you want to know more about them?
In this article, we will learn few Swans facts for kids.
Let’s dive in!
24 Swans Facts for Kids
1. Swans are from the Anatidae family or the waterfowl family. These are the largest aquatic members of their own families. Swans are within the Cygnus genus. That tells us that the closest relatives of swans are the geese and ducks.
2. Swans can be spotted in the Northern hemisphere mainly. You can see the majority of swans living in the United States, Alaska, and Canada. However, some still reside in New Zealand, South America, and Australia.
You will find them gliding in the lakes and rivers. But mostly, these are found in lakes.
3. Swans are not the natural residents of Asia. Along with it, we have some other places that swans do not take as their home. For example, Central America and Africa.
4. Swans can dwell both on salt and freshwater. Those who live in freshwater bodies love to eat weed, widgeon grass, and stonewort. Also, they can literally gorge on pond insects.
The food habits of saltwater swans are somewhat different from their freshwater counterparts. They eat marine grass, sea insects, club grass, salt marsh grass, and algae.
Some people tend to feed these birds in parks or public areas. However, this doesn’t seem right because the mold in bread can be poisonous.
5. The beak of a swan is called the ‘Bill.’
6. Unlike us, swans can control their gluttony. They are very particular when it comes to eating. Generally, they do not indulge themselves in overeating. They are well aware of their eating limits.
7. Swan is one of the most exquisite creations of Nature. It has an elongated neck, and the neck is curved. The whole body of a swan is covered in white feathers. There are some other variations as well. For example, the black swan is its black counterpart. Whatever color they may be, all of the varieties look marvelous.
8. There are a total of seven species of swans. The Mute Swan is native to Europe and is an introduced bird in North America. They have white bodies and yellowish-orange beaks with a pinch of black.
9. Black swans are native to Australia and have black-feathered bodies with a pinkish-yellow beak.
10. The largest extant waterfowl, namely, Trumpeter swans. These have white bodies with black beaks.
11. The tundra swans are somewhat smaller than the others and have a yellow beak with black patches on the top.
12. Next comes the whooper swan. This is basically the Eurasian counterpart of the trumpeter swans.
13. The sixth is the black-necked swans. These have a white body with an elongated black neck and pinkish-yellow beak.
14. The seventh is the coscoroba Swan. They are beautiful birds and they have a white feathered body with pink-hued bills and legs. However, they are no longer considered swans.
15. Swans have the ability to sleep while floating. Yes, you read it correctly. They are known for their capability of sleeping while on water.
You may have spotted swans standing on one leg on the land. These fantastic creatures can sleep in that posture too!
17. A swan can live up to twenty years. On an average note, swans generally have a lifespan of fourteen to sixteen years. However, the Trumpeter swans can live up to twenty-four years.
18. The average weight of a swan is almost thirty pounds. The male Swan, namely the cob, is slightly heavier than the pen or its female counterpart.
They measure a length of almost four feet to one meter from the tip of their beak to the end of their tail. The height of the Swan is generally one meter. The male Swan looks a tiny bit taller than the female ones.
19. Swans can fly incredibly fast. The average speed of a tundra swan is eighteen to thirty miles per hour. Trumpeter swans fly at a rate of twenty-five to fifty miles per hour. But you will be amazed to know the speed of Mute swans. On average, they fly at fifty-five to sixty Miles per hour speed. That is faster than a lion!
20. Swans often represent love. Swans mate for life. That means if a swan chooses their partner, it is most likely for the couple to be together. They do not change their partners unless some mishap like death or infertility arises.
21.Swans start mating from the age of two years to four years. However, the process begins with finding a suitable partner. Some swans take more than seven years to find a partner.
Most mating happens during winter and can last from a few seconds to a couple of hours. After three to four weeks, the female Swan or the pen lays eggs. At a time, a female swan can lay two to ten eggs.
22. Pens or the mum swan sits on the eggs for almost six weeks until the eggs are hatched. Till this period, the couple lives in the nest. The cob or the male swan helps build the nest, and the female Swan takes care of the eggs.
23. The baby swans are not as beautiful as their parents. The cygnets or baby swans live up to six months with their mom until they are mature and independent. Afterward, they start living on their own.
24. Swans are not that aggressive, and due to their size, they have fewer predators. However, they are spotted to show aggressive output if any creature or human tries to enter their territory or near the nest.
Conclusion
Swans are undoubtedly incredible creatures. They are known for their magnificent looks and remembered for their intelligence. People say that swans have sharp brains, due to which they do not forget who was kind to them and who was vile. That is why in 2001, a swan was said to break the leg of a man when triggered.
Swans are often used for public entertainment. However, In the UK, all swans of open water bodies are owned by the royal crown.
We hope you enjoyed reading about Swans facts for kids.
We will know more facts about different things in the next article.