SYMBOL OF LOYALTY

Large or medium sized birds. Males are usually larger than females. The wingspan of representatives of the genus is 1.5–3.1 m, and the mass can reach 12.7–15 kg. The body is somewhat heavy and valky. The plumage of swans in its color, depending on the species, is either pure white, or gray or black. Swans are characterized by a very long and thin neck, which allows them to search the bottom in search of food in deeper waters, as well as by their size, by which they are the largest aquatic birds. The wings are long and wide. The paws are rather short, which is why the swans, moving on the ground, make a somewhat awkward impression. In young birds, the plumage is brownish-gray, the legs are black. The plumage is dense and waterproof. The coccygeal gland is well developed, secreting an oily secret that protects dense contour feathers from getting wet. The subcutaneous fat layer, depending on the type of bird, its age, season and abundance of food, can reach a considerable thickness. The beak is elongated, flattened and equipped with plates along the edges.

Typical brood birds. The offspring are raised by both parents who take care of the chicks for 1-2 years after birth. Shedding twice a year: summer - full and autumn-winter - partial. A complete summer molt begins with a change in flight feathers. The process of complete molting proceeds slowly. The change from down to feather plumage in young birds begins when they reach about half the size of adult birds. Nestlings feed on various aquatic larvae taken off the coast and in shallow waters and, to a lesser extent, on plant foods. Adult birds, in addition to small aquatic animals, feed on aquatic plants. Birds immerse their necks in water in shallow places and dig for a long time in bottom silt, digging a rounded hole up to 80 cm in diameter in it, extracting rhizomes and young shoots of aquatic plants. At the same time, small aquatic animals are caught at the bottom or in silt. They usually feed in the mornings and evenings.
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