Cygnets

A cygnet is a young swan. Cygnets are the offspring of swans in the genus Cygnus and are typically hatched in spring after eggs are incubated by the parents. They hatch with soft down and are usually able to swim almost immediately, though they rely on their parents for protection and guidance in the early weeks. The family group remains together as the cygnets grow, often traveling with the adults to feeding areas and sheltered nest sites.

Appearance and development: At hatching, cygnets are usually gray or brown with pale down and small, rounded bodies. Over the first months their plumage lightens and they acquire juvenile feathers; most swan species reach adult plumage after their first molt or by the second year. Species vary in adult color, with many mute swans becoming white and others, such as the black swan, retaining darker tones.

Diet, habitat, and life cycle: Cygnets feed mainly on aquatic vegetation, along with small invertebrates found in wetlands. They inhabit ponds, lakes, rivers, and swamps and rely on the parents to lead them to food and safe nesting sites. In many species, cygnets stay with their parents for about a year before becoming independent and joining or forming wintering flocks; some groups may migrate seasonally with the adults. Predation on eggs and young cygnets is a natural pressure, and adults defend their brood.