Scientific Classification
- Common Name
- coscoroba swan
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus Species
- Coscoroba coscoroba (a swanlike diving bird)
Fast Facts
- Description
- The coscoroba swan is a large white bird with bright pink duck-shaped bill and feet. The plumage is entirely white.
- Size
- 87.5 to 112.5 cm (35 to 45 in.)
- Weight
- Males - weigh 4.6 kg (10 lbs.); Females weigh 3.8 kg (8.4 lbs.)
- Diet
- These birds feed on various plants, aquatic insects, fish spawn and small crustaceans.
- Incubation
- 36 days
- Clutch Size
- 4 to 7 eggs
- Sexual Maturity
- Approximately 3 years
- Life Span
- 36 years
- Range
- This species has an extremely large range and can be found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Falkland Islands, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
- Habitat
- Coscaroba swans inhabit areas with swamps, lakes, lagoons, and other bodies of fresh water.
- Population
- The population is estimated to number 10,000 to 25,000 individuals, roughly equating to 6,700 to 17,000 mature individuals. The population appears to be stable and is not severely fragmented.
- Status
- IUCN: Least Concern
CITES: Appendix II
USFWS: Not listed
Fun Facts
Their interesting name originated from their loud “cos-cor-ooo” vocalization.
These birds utilize a threat display that involves aggressively flapping their wings and lifting them high to appear larger.
Coscoroba swans are not known to have a triumph ceremony like other swans. Such ceremonies occur when a male attacks a rival suitor, then returns to his potential mate to perform an elaborate ceremony while posturing and calling.
Ecology and Conservation
The flightless young may fall prey to small predators.
The most serious threat to their survival is habitat loss.
Bibliography
Austin, G. Birds of the World. New York. Golden Press, Inc., 1961.
Gotch, A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained. UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981.
BirdLife International. 2016. Coscoroba coscoroba. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22679866A92832574. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679866A92832574.en. Downloaded on 24 January 2019.
Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba), In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/cosswa1. Downloaded on 12 February 2020.
http://www.waza.org/en/zoo/pick-a-picture/coscoroba-coscoroba’: Downloaded on 24 January 2019.
