# Coscoroba Swan (*Coscoroba coscoroba*) The Coscoroba Swan is a beautiful bird with white feathers and a unique fluffy appearance. They are known for their graceful swimming and can often be seen gliding on lakes and rivers. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Coscoroba Swan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Coscoroba_coscoroba_-Pineyro%252C_Buenos_Aires%252C_Argentina-8.jpg&width=800) Photo: Shanthanu Bhardwaj, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coscoroba_coscoroba_-Pineyro%252C_Buenos_Aires%252C_Argentina-8.jpg) ## Appearance The Coscoroba Swan is a medium-sized, all-white swan, noticeably smaller than other swan species. It has a distinctive bright red bill and pinkish-red legs, which contrast with its pure white plumage. Black primary feathers are visible only when the bird is in flight, creating a striking wingtip pattern. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Coscoroba ## Interesting facts - Its scientific name, Coscoroba coscoroba, is a direct imitation of its own unique call! - These swans sometimes gather in huge flocks of thousands during the non-breeding season! - They build large, floating nests from reeds right on the water's edge in wetlands. - Unlike other swans, the Coscoroba Swan is the only living species in its entire genus. ## Special abilities - **Powerful Paddlers:** Coscoroba Swans can swiftly paddle through water because of their strong webbed feet, helping them escape predators and find food. - **Underwater Foragers:** Coscoroba Swans can dive briefly underwater because of their dense bodies, allowing them to reach submerged aquatic plants. - **Vocal Communicators:** Coscoroba Swans can produce a distinctive 'cos-cor-o-ba' call because of unique vocal cords, helping them identify each other. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 87-115 cm - **Wingspan:** 135-160 cm - **Weight:** 3.4-6.4 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 35-38 days - **Migration Distance:** 1000 km ## Diet & Feeding These swans are herbivores, mostly grazing on a variety of aquatic plants and some small invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** aquatic plant leaves, aquatic plant stems, roots, seeds, small insects, molluscs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Andean Fox (*Lycalopex culpaeus*) — Andean foxes may prey on Coscoroba swan eggs and young cygnets. - **Eats:** Leafy Pondweed (*Potamogeton nodosus*) — The swans primarily graze on the leaves and stems of pondweeds. - **Depends on:** California Bulrush (*Schoenoplectus californicus*) — They use bulrush stalks and leaves to construct their large floating nests. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch swans from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Coscoroba Swan? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Coscoroba Swan? 87-115 cm ### What is Coscoroba Swan's wingspan? 135-160 cm ### How much does Coscoroba Swan weigh? 3.4-6.4 kg ### How long does Coscoroba Swan live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Coscoroba Swan move? 60 km/h ### What does Coscoroba Swan eat? These swans are herbivores, mostly grazing on a variety of aquatic plants and some small invertebrates. ### Where is Coscoroba Swan usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Coscoroba Swan: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coscoroba-swan)