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Name: Shyra H.
Status: other
Age: 13
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Tuesday, May 07, 2002
Question:
I have to swans at my house. One day they started to "fight" my parents and I were not sure if they were trying to mate or not. The male got on top of the female, but he started to bite at her neck. My mom and I were worried that he would kill the female. They were chasing each other for a long time. We thought about them 2 mating... or if they were really fighting because my sisters were feeding them, then they were fighting over the food. That is when they started to fight. Can you tell me what swans are supposed to act like when mating? Also, if they were really fighting or mating? thanks!

Replies:
While it certainly does not look "romantic" in human terms, this sounds like mating behavior.

J. Elliott

Biting the neck is a common part of the mating act of several waterfowl species.

Steve Sample

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