Trumpeter swan life history

Swans hold a special place in human culture. References to swans can be found in Greek mythology, Roman and Egyptian history, and the writings of Christian prophets in Europe and Asia. Swans were used on coins in Germany and the badge of Henry IV in England, where records of laws relating to the ownership of swans date back to the 12th century A.D. (Banko 1960).

Swans belong to the family Anatidae and the subfamily Anserinae (Bellrose 1976). They have heavy bodies and short, strong legs. Their large webbed feet and long neck make them well adapted for feeding on aquatic vegetation in shallow marshes and lakes. Adult swans will consume about twenty pounds of leafy aquatic vegetation in one day.

Trumpeter swan life history