Swans are graceful waterbirds, known for their elegant appearance. Their young, often seen trailing behind parents, embark on a journey of development and learning from hatching.
What Exactly Is a Cygnet?
A cygnet is simply a young swan. The term originates from Old French, where “cignet” referred to a small or young swan. Newly hatched cygnets are covered in thick, soft downy feathers. While many adult swans are white, cygnets are typically dusky grey, brown, or sometimes all white, depending on the species, such as Mute swan cygnets being grey or brownish, and Black swan cygnets dusky grey. Their bills are often grey-black rather than the bright colors seen in adult swans.
From Hatchling to Juvenile
After hatching, cygnets quickly develop the ability to run and swim within hours, although their parents remain highly protective. Weighing around 250 grams at hatching, they are the largest of waterfowl chicks. Their physical transformation begins with the replacement of their downy feathers; proper feathers start to emerge around five to six weeks, initially on their wings, shoulders, and tail. By approximately 9 to 10 weeks, they are largely feathered, though they retain a grey juvenile plumage until their second winter.
As they grow, cygnets devote more time to preening, an important behavior modeled by their parents, which helps maintain feather condition and waterproofing. By two weeks old, cygnets can feed themselves, initially consuming protein-rich aquatic insects and crustaceans for rapid growth. They gradually transition to a plant-based diet similar to adults by two to three months of age. Cygnets reach nearly adult size within about three months, and by 13 to 17 weeks, they are learning to fly.
Parental Nurturing and Independence
Parent swans, known for their strong pair bonds, collaboratively raise their young. They protect their cygnets fiercely from predators, sometimes even carrying them on their backs for rest or safety. The parents also teach their offspring survival skills, such as foraging and avoiding dangers. They will pull up underwater plants or stir up sediment to bring food to the surface for their young, demonstrating how to find sustenance.
The duration of parental care extends until the next breeding season, meaning cygnets stay with their parents for about 9 to 10 months. During this period, the young swans learn migration routes and food sources from their more experienced parents. As the next breeding season approaches, the adult swans gradually encourage their offspring to become self-sufficient, sometimes even chasing them away to promote independence. Once independent, young swans often join non-breeding flocks before finding a mate and establishing their own territories, usually around three to four years of age.