What Do Swans Eat? List Of Healthy Foods To Feed Them

Swans are quite majestic birds, and we've all seen flocks of these beautiful white creatures swimming serenely in our local ponds and lakes.

Throwing bread to swans is quite an entertaining activity, and it is fun to watch them duck in and out of water in search of food. However, is feeding them so many processed carbohydrates really safe?

Swans are inherently herbivorous in nature and sustain themselves on a diet of weeds, aquatic grasses, and grains in the wild. They are also very fond of vegetables. Baby swans eat more insects and amphibians, which helps them in their growing stage - with their consumption of animal matter decreasing greatly once they reach adulthood. To understand more about the eating habits of these wonderful waterbirds, read on!

If you enjoy this article, check out our other pages on what quails eat and what squid eat.

What do black swans eat?

The black swan is an Australian species of waterbird that has beautiful black plumage and a bright red bill, contrary to the swans which we know and love - which sport mainly white plumage.

These beautiful birds are almost entirely herbivorous in nature and feed mainly on algae and green vegetation like pondweeds and aquatic grasses. They can plunge their long necks into around 3.2 ft(1 m) of water, and pull these out by the roots. Though they are observed feeding on land as well, they do this rarely as they are very clumsy walkers. They prefer eating in the water, and can even filter feed through their beaks at the surface level.

Like with other swans, baby black swans eat small animals like shellfish, crustaceans, and fish. Once they reach the adult stage, they gravitate more towards aquatic plants and root vegetables.

What do swans eat in the wild?

Swans can mostly be observed following herbivorous diets, however as their habitats include a wide range of small animals they will occasionally indulge in feeding on small fish, amphibians like frogs, worms, mollusks, and various insects.

Swans can feed both when in the water as well as on land. While on land, they may stray into farms and eat lettuce, potatoes, and other fresh vegetables like carrots, plucking them out of the ground and causing distress to planted crops. They are inclined to feed on short cropped grass and pondweed. They are also fond of grains and will eat wild rice and wheat. They have also adapted to eating weeds and plants which other birds wouldn't normally eat, which helps prevent competition for food sources between species.

It was observed that female swans tend to include more weeds in their diet than males do, and also eat more food overall.

They normally eat food like green algae, sea arrow grass, wild celery, waterweed, and musk grass, which essentially forms a big part of their diet. Swans prefer to eat food resting on the surface of the water, as like most animals, they are inclined towards saving as much energy as possible. Diving under the water or searching for food on land can burn a lot of calories, which is what they want to prevent.

Many people like feeding bread to swans, and watching them bob in and out of the water to catch the pieces. While feeding swans fresh, wholewheat bread is completely safe - large quantities can cause dietary problems due to the excess of refined flour, sugar, and fat. Feeding them moldy bread is very dangerous as well, as it can contribute to causing botulism, which can make them very weak and lethargic. Instead of constantly feeding them bread, it is recommended to feed them whole grains like wheat and vegetable matter like cut up lettuce, potatoes, and corn instead. This will contribute much more nutrients to their diet and keep them healthy and happy.

Refrain from feeding them items like chocolate and commercially produced fruits like apples. Chocolate can cause a number of gastrointestinal problems, leading to vomiting which can even progress to death. Apples can be fed to them only if cut properly and skinless, as the skin may contain pesticides which can be potentially harmful due to their toxic nature. Furthermore, apple seeds contain small traces of cyanide, which are toxic even for adult swans. Onions, similar to chocolate, can cause a large amount of distress to the digestive system and can lead to respiratory failure in large amounts. In general, it is not recommended to feed swans human food, as the processed ingredients in a lot of junk food do not agree with them. An unhealthy diet may also result in a condition called 'angel wing,' in which they lose the ability to fly.

Swans tend to eat a lot, as their diets are mostly plant-based. Having to digest so much plant matter on a daily basis causes the expenditure of huge amounts of energy, which requires them to eat more food! It is estimated that swans eat around 4-7 lb (1.8-3.2 kg) of food every day to keep up with their daily activities.

What do baby swans eat?

Before baby swans break out of their shells, they consume the yolk inside the egg. This keeps them full for a period of time after they hatch, during which they do not need to feed. How much yolk it consumes right as it hatches is crucial for the cygnet, as during the first 7-10 days of its life it is very vulnerable, and the nutrients obtained through the yolk will help keep it strong until it is ready to eat solid food. As newborn swans are still unable to eat insects and vegetation like adults, the egg yolk provides an easily digestible alternative.

After the initial survival period, the young swans are inclined to search for food as they use up the stored energy from the yolks by that time. Adult swans do not feed their young as other bird species do, and the baby swans are left on their own to fend for themselves in this regard. They learn to forage for insects, grains, and other aquatic vegetation among the marshes and pond reeds.

Learning to feed themselves is very important for cygnets, as they need to grow stronger in order to keep up with their parents and siblings. Any swan left behind from the group is in danger of being targeted by predators like herons, eagles, seagulls, and crows that can dive swiftly and pluck them from the water.

Baby swans eat more animal matter than adults in the form of small insects, tiny amphibians, and mollusks. As they keep growing, they switch from eating more animal matter to feeding on plants. The diet of an adult swan does not require as much protein as that of a growing cygnet, and its nutritional needs are all met through the various plants that they consume.

What do swans eat in the winter?

Ponds and lakes are prone to freezing over in the winter, which can cause distress to swans as it makes it difficult to reach the plant matter trapped beneath the surface. The feeding habits of swans are not really likely to change with the seasons, but the availability of certain foods may prompt them to consume alternate options.

They continue to feed on dark green lettuce and potatoes, both of which continue to be available above ground. They also feed on more grains and berries during this period.

If you observe any swans struggling to find food during the winter months, make it a priority to help them out in any way you can. Feeding your local swan population during the cold winter can help to keep them healthy and prevent them from succumbing to starvation.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what swans eat then why not take a look at what sharks eat or swan facts.