Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Sexing Swans 
Name: RON
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
We live on the chesapeake bay, For the past 3 weeks we have a beautiful white swan at or pier every nite. The largest bird I have ever been that close to. He waits for me to come out and feed him after dinner.We have raised a couple of baby ducks and releised them. My wife and I are fighting over a name. (male or female) I say he is a male because of his personalty. that really pis--- her off.can you tell me for real how we can tell. P.S. please excuse my spelling and launage. I am not a computer person ,just happen to have one and am trying to learn how to use it. I can,t type either.


Replies:
There is no easy way visually to tell male from female swans, behavior within the pair would be about the only clue you could get by observing the birds in the wild.

J. Elliott


Click here to return to the Biology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory