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 Swans are beautiful birds.
They are considered to be royal birds in the U.K. thanks to their unique beauty. You have probably seen white swans
at parks or on TV. The birds often enjoy swimming on gentle lakes. They look very
graceful, don’t they? But
how much do you know about these birds? This week, let’s learn some
interesting facts about swans!
Swans are the largest members of the duck family and they are
among the largest flying birds. They may look similar to geese, but they are much
larger in size. They also have larger feet and necks than geese.
The largest species, such as the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can grow to
be over 1.5 meters long, 1.2 meters tall, and weigh over 15 kilograms.
Their wingspan can be almost 3
meters! Males are bigger and heavier
than females. Swans feed on water plants, insects,
small fish, and tadpoles. They can live as
long as 30 years.
The adult male swan is called a cob and the female is called a pen.
The baby swan is called a cygnet and it has a grey feathered coat until it reaches about 9 kilograms.
Soon after they become snowy white like their parents.
A mother swan makes a yipping sound when calling
her baby to her. |
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