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A Mute Swan


A Mute Swan
Photo Information
Copyright: Hilary Wilkinson (Hil) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1408] (4839)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-30
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic DMC LZ1
Exposure: f/3.9, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-10-09 19:37
Viewed: 1105
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mute Swan

Adults of this large swan range from 125-155 cm long with a 200-240 cm wingspan. They may stand over 1.2 m (four feet) tall. Males are larger than females and have a larger knob on their bill. The Mute Swan is one of the heaviest flying birds, with males (known as "cobs") averaging at about 12kg (27 lbs.), and females (known as "pens") more than 9 kg (20 lbs.). An exceptional Poland cob weighed almost 23 kg (50 lbs.), surpassing the longer-bodied Trumpeter Swan to make it the heaviest waterfowl ever recorded. Its size, orange-reddish bill and white plumage make this swan almost unmistakable. The most similar species is Whooper Swan, but that has a yellow and black bill, and lacks the curved "swan" neck, is longer and heavier and lacks the characteristic projection above the bill.


A Mute swan at the moment of landing

A Mute swan spreads its wings

Two resident swans of Iowa State University

A pair of swans creating a "lovers' heart"
Young birds, called "cygnets", are not the bright white of mature adults, and lack the bright orange bill. The color of the down may be a dull white or gray, and controversy exists over whether the color is related to their gender[citation needed].

There are no recognized living subspecies of the Mute Swan. The morph immutabilis ("Poland Swan") in which the cygnets are dull white is not a subspecies as it occurs in all populations. However, during the Pleistocene, a paleosubspecies (Cygnus olor bergmanni) existed; it differed only in size and is known from fossils found in Azerbaijan.

Notes from Wilkipedia.com
claudine, c_rapp, fyapici, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-10-09 19:47]

Hello Hilary

May I be the first to say ,WOW.What a beautiful composition with amazing water.The colours are lovely and the swan is posing perfectly.TFS

Rob

SWEET! i love the way it is posed ive seen swans but not with there wings up like that. The Reflection in the water is exclent.

Absolutely gorgeous!! This is an amazing capture. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful picture.
Christan

Hi Hilary,
Perfect. Just perfect. No needs another words. Very well done it. Bravo and TFS.
Greetings
Fevzi.

Hi Hilary,
I thinks that you swan's picture improve themselves with every single one you post. This is a very elegant portrait if this beauty, Well captured with very good lightning, composition and lightning. Thanks for sharing this beauty :)
Claudine

Hi Hilary,
Great swan shot.Colours, sharp and reflection are exellent.TFS.

hAyAti

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2082 W: 216 N: 3759] (12474)
  • [2006-10-10 8:21]

Hi Hilary

Another very beautiful swan picture form you!
I really like the POV and the great reflection on the water!
Also very nice are the sharp details, the colors and DOF.
Very well framed and composed, too.

Bravo and TFS
horia

well compopsed nice shot. thepov is very good. the colourtones in the water looks beautiful. the falling sunlight on the water is making a special effect.
tfs
regards
pankaj

bonjour hilary
le reflet bleuté va tres bien avec le blanc parfaitement exposé du cygne.
belle photo.
laurent

  • Great 
  • fryz Silver Star Critiquer [C: 19 W: 2 N: 3] (120)
  • [2006-10-10 19:14]

ohh le reflet est superbe!!!
a+
fryz

Hello Hilary,
Well done mf. I like the POV, swans pose, reflection, and good sharpness/ detail I see :)

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 0 N: 90] (7745)
  • [2006-10-13 7:51]

Hi Hilary
Beautiful swan shot. Great soft colours on water. Good sharpnes, details, DOF and POV.
Well done Hilary

osse

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