Welcome To Gabby's Neighborhood
swans
Mute Swan ~~~~~~
Our neighborhood is home to The Swan
Lake-Iris Gardens, where all eight of the worlds swans reside. ( Some orinthologist
feel that the Coscoroba is not a swan but a member of the Whistling Duck family. )
I am not an orinthologist, I am just a waterfowl lover and I believe, the
Coscoroba is a swan. Therefore, I conclude, we have all eight swans residing in our
community.
The Mute Swan (pictured left) is not really silent, they can make some sounds.
They are just quieter than the others, like the Trumpeter, who is named for the
trumpet sounds
he makes during the mating season.
The female is called a pen and the male is a cob.
The Mute pen will not mate with the cob until after the perfect nest has been built.
So, the pens are not just another pretty face, they are also
very intelligent.
; )
~~~~~~~~~~~ Tundra
I believe the swan pictured on the right
is a Tundra, however as I stated earlier, I am not an expert.
Maybe one day
someone more knowledgable than me will surf through and either confirm or
correct my assumption. Until that happens I am sticking with my decision.
The Tundra
is sometimes called the Whistler. It is a large swan between 11 and 20 pounds.
This all white swan has black feet and a black bill that has a yellow spot
in front of the eye. Is it just me, or are they extraordinarily beautiful
and graceful?
Coscoroba ~~~~~
A pair of very curious Coscorobas. If you would like
to see what these guys thought of the photographer
click here
The Eight Types of Swans
- Mute Swan
- Trumpeter
- Whooper
- Black Swan
- Blacknecked Swan
- Bewick
- Coscoroba
- Tundra Swan (Whistler)
Black Swan ~~~~~
Both the male and female are black with bright
red bills with a white band on the tip. The legs and feet are grey.
They are native to Tasmania and Australia. The cygnets (baby swans) are a
dull brown. Like all cygnets
they don't reach sexual maturity for about 3 years.
back to the nest
Special Thanks to Skywalker !
If you would like to use these pictures please flatter the photographer by requesting permission. Photographs by J. Bogdany
