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Mute Cygnets


Mute Cygnets
Photo Information
Copyright: Hilary Wilkinson (Hil) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 750 W: 11 N: 1442] (4951)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-10-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic DMC LZ1
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-12-11 15:31
Viewed: 996
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A Couple of Cygnets

Swans are large water birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae.

Swans usually mate for life, though "divorce" does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch is between 3–8.

The word is derived from Old English swan, akin to German Schwan, in turn derived from Indo-European root *swen (to sound, to sing), whence Latin derives sonus (sound). (Webster's New World Dictionary) Young swans are known as cygnets, from the Latin word for swan, cygnus. An adult male is a cob, from Middle English cobbe (leader of a group); an adult female is a pen (origin unknown).
Coloration
The Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage, but the Southern Hemisphere species are white-and-black. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck. The Coscoroba Swan, also from southern South America, has black tips to the primary feathers.

The legs of swans are dark blackish grey, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies; the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.

Systematics and evolution
All evidence suggests that the genus Cygnus evolved in Europe or western Eurasia during the Miocene, spreading all over the Northern Hemisphere until the Pliocene. When the southern species branched off is not known. The Mute Swan apparently is closest to the Southern Hemisphere Cygnus; its habits of carrying the neck curved (not straight) and the wings fluffed (not flush) as well as its bill color and knob indicate that its closest living relative is actually the Black Swan. Given the biogeography and appearance of the subgenus Olor it seems likely that these are of a more recent origin, as evidenced by their modern ranges (which were mostly uninhabitable during the last ice age) and great similarity between the taxa. Also, the relationships of the Coscoroba Swan remain rather obscure; it apparently represents the most early divergence as it is in some aspects more similar to geese and shelducks.

Notes from Wilkipedia.com
mikou, undoredo, horia, captainsgirl, jeanpaul, dew77, anel, nainnain, JPlumb, SkyF, RAP, fyapici, Alex99, marhowie, vanderschelden, marinell, star74 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: ThanksHil 1 12-13 16:07
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 147 N: 7948] (24747)
  • [2006-12-11 15:37]

This is a beauty Hilary!
Well captured pose of these two cygnets, fantastic water colours in the BG, contrasting well with the cygnets and great lighting and composition.
TFS, best wishes, Ivan

Very beautiful pose excellent captured.

TFS Anders.

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 863 W: 73 N: 1348] (5265)
  • [2006-12-11 16:28]

Hi Hilary.
Beautiful capture delightful couple.Their gorgeous position with native elegance.Great composition,very nice lighting and beautiful colours.I like splendid blue colour water.
Well done,i like very much.
TFS and very informative note too.
Regards Milos

What a lovely pair caught with an elegant pose, the light was a bit strong and whites are a little hot on the neck but very nice feather detail and good POV. Thanks for sharing best rgds Necip.

  • Great 
  • Marx44 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 59 W: 72 N: 279] (1768)
  • [2006-12-11 16:37]

Very nice scene for eye.
You used light very good.

Hello Hilary,
Very beautiful moment you've captured!! lovely pose of them, delicate details, nice DOF and POV, the composition is also great. :-)
Regards and TFS,
Kevin

HI hilary
C'est une très belle prise que tu as réussi avec ces deux cygnes entrelassés.
La présentation est belle avec de jolis détails et de belles couleurs.
Merci et au revoir...JP

great pov, awesome reflections and a really nice pose from these swans..TFS
Donna :o)

  •      
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-12-12 2:09]

Hello Hilary,
Very nice capture.I liked POV,pose of swans,vivid colors and composition a lot.
TFS..:-)
PL

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2135 W: 224 N: 3948] (13111)
  • [2006-12-12 3:26]

Hi Hilary

What a touching picture! This is indeed a wonderful capture!
The pose of these two lovely swana pretty much sais it all :)
Excellent POV and sharpness, great contrast with the water, impecable exposure and hence the charming colors.
A very beautiful composition!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1238 W: 0 N: 2222] (9356)
  • [2006-12-12 4:44]

Hi Hilary,
Fantastic light on the cygnets and on the water.
That's really a wonderful picture.
Best regards
Anne

Hi Hillary, this shot is very well composed with great detail, and the note is quite extensive too.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-12-12 7:23]

Hello Hilary,
wonderful shot of the siblings. Nice POV and lovely details. The plumage shows up very nice against this lovely shade of blue. Very sharp and the textures are wonderful.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-12-12 8:24]

Very moving compo Hilary, with great point of view.

Composition: *****
Sharpness: ****
Color: ****
Lighting: ***
Background: *****
Framing: *****
DOF: ****
Focus: ****
POV: *****
Frame: *****
Note: *****

Another beautiful presentation of your beloved birds.
Best regards... Ricardo

Hi Hilary.
I missed your lovely swans when I went to Artvin for a little journey. But you show here very nice guys again with amazin and impressive pose. Thanks.
Greetings
Fevzi

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3160 W: 148 N: 4787] (15449)
  • [2006-12-12 12:58]

Hi Hilary.
What a lovely couple you have captured. Their nice pose is simply amazing. Colours, reflections, lighting and sharpness are excellent. Framing and note are also done perfectly. My best regards and TFS.
Alexei.

hello
bravo, pour cette photo de toute beauté, magnifique position de ces deux cygnes, on dirait qu'ils font la pose super couleurs et BG extra
salutations
edith

Hello Hilary,
This is a beautiful capture with excellent POV and composition. I like the pose of the Cygnets; this is very nice! Good exposure and colors, well done!
Claudine

Hi Hilary.
I just dropped by to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas & Happy Holiday season.
Your image makes me think of love, peace, and beauty..perfect for this time of year :)
Howard

Colorful, very 'female' picture...
Excellent details and tones in the plumage..
Well done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-12-15 20:47]

Hello Hil

Another beauty, I like the interaction between the cygnets,and the composition in the frame.The colours are well saturated,and it is interesting to see the colours of the cygnets.Excellent POV,and good DOF.Very good detail in the plumage.Good eye contact as well.TFS

Rob

bonjour karan
c'est une tres jolie photo de ces jeunes cygnes deja amoureux semble t-il!.
bravo.
laurent

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1479 W: 18 N: 3030] (11110)
  • [2006-12-18 13:55]

Hi Hilary

This is a charming pose. They look so content. Lovely water colours and a great composition

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 620 W: 11 N: 625] (3390)
  • [2006-12-27 3:34]

Beautiful shot,love the composition..well seen &well taken..

Hi Hilary
I like this couple. :-)
Very gentle and elegant..
The colors and sharpness of feathers are very good.
The note is very interesting..

Best regards,

Marina

Hello Hil,
Very nice pose,
Very nice light usage.
Clarity,details and pov are great.
TFS

hi
lovely capture, so beautiful, very nice i love it ;)
jo

Fotografia splendida!
Momento molto tenero e dolce.
Ottima!

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