Coscoroba swan

The coscoroba swan (Coscoroba

coscoroba) is a species of waterfowl
endemic to southern South America. It is
the smallest of the birds called “swans”,
but still a large species of waterfowl. It
belongs to the subfamily Anserinae in the
family of ducks, swans, and geese,
Anatidae. It is placed in the monotypic
genus Coscoroba. The coscoroba swan is
traditionally considered as an early branch
from the common ancestor leading to true
geese and swans, and recent genetic
studies have associated a phylogenetic
relationship between this species and the
Cape Barren goose (Cereopsis
novaehollandiae) as sister groups.[2]
 Coscoroba swan

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae

Genus: Coscoroba
L. Reichenbach,
1853

Species: C. coscoroba

Binomial name

Coscoroba coscoroba
(Molina, 1782)
Description

Flying

Male coscoroba swans weigh 3.8–5.4 kg

(8.4–11.9 lb) and females weigh 3.2–
4.5 kg (7.1–9.9 lb). The length is from 87.5
to 115 cm (34.4 to 45.3 in) and the
wingspan is 155 to 160 cm (61 to 63 in).[3]
They have white plumage except for black
tips to the outer six primary feathers,
although this black is often barely visible
on the closed wing. In flight, the black
wing tips are conspicuous. The bird has a
red beak, legs and feet. They look
somewhat more like geese than swans.
The female looks almost identical to the
male. The cygnet is a patchy color, with
brown and gray hues. The coscoroba swan
is also lacking the black mask that other
swans have where their lores are between
the eyes and beak. They look like a very
small swan in body and look like a goose
in the head. Eggs have a measure 89 X
61 mm, with averages of 82 to 94 53 to
67 mm, with an average weight of
170 grams and range from 129 to
203 grams

Distribution and habitat

The Coscoroba swan breeds in South
America from southern Chile and central
Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego and
the Falkland Islands. In winter it flies north
to central Chile, northern Argentina,
Uruguay and the southeast tip of Brazil. Its
habitat is well-vegetated swamps and
lagoons. Its population is estimated at
10,000–25,000 birds.[1][4] It also has an
ancient route to the Pantanal of Brazil and
has been seen in large flocks in the
Nhecolandia and Rio Negro regions.

Coscoroba swans have escaped or been

deliberately released in to Florida, USA, but
there is no evidence that the population is
breeding and may only persist due to
continuing releases or escapes.[1]

Behavior
The coscoroba swan feeds on various
plant matter, small aquatic insects, and
small fish. The female incubates the eggs,
while the male stands guard and
aggressively helps to protect the fledglings
against predators after hatching.
Coscoroba swans live to an age of
approximately twenty years.
Gallery
Juveniles in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Bath taking at Weltvogelpark Walsrode

Swimming
 At Berlin Zoo, Germany

References
1. BirdLife International (2012).
"Coscoroba coscoroba" . IUCN Red
List of Threatened Species. IUCN.
2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
2. Rodrigues, B.S. et al. (2014)
Chromosomal studies on Coscoroba
coscoroba (Aves: Anseriformes)
reinforce the Coscoroba–Cereopsis
clade . Biological Journal of the
Linnean Society, 111: 274–279.
3. del Hoyo, J. Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J.
(1992) Handbook of the Birds of the
World. Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks.
Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-10-5.
4. BirdLife International (2010). "Species
factsheet: Coscoroba coscoroba" .
 Retrieved 3 August 2010.

External links
Media related to Coscoroba coscoroba
at Wikimedia Commons

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Last edited 3 months ago by Plantdrew

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