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Mute swan
Cygnus olor
46.4589, 6.84139
Field Notes
Description:
Sleeping beauty… This mute swan was spotted having a nap with a mate at a small city harbor. Swans can sleep standing on one leg or two legs or whilst floating, usually with their heads tucked back under a wing. Many mammals and birds can sleep with their eyes open.
Habitat:
Native to much of Europe and Asia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. Also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa The swans pictured here are all year-round residents on Lake Geneva. Their habitat can be seen on the second shot at http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8458037
Notes:
The mute swan is recognisable by its pronounced knob atop the bill. All mute swans are white at maturity. The head and neck feathers are often stained orange-brown as seen here, due to iron and tannins in the water.
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