Michigan

in the Great Lakes

Swans, Ducks and Geese

Mute Swans

Did you know that a female swan is called a Pen and a male swan is called a Cob? Young swans are called cygnets. The scientific name for the Mute Swan, shown in the photo above, is Cygnus olor.

Mute Swans are white and have orange bills. They are found in and around ponds and lakes in Michigan. They are known to be aggressive at times.

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Mallard Ducks

Mallard Ducks are one of the more common types of ducks found in Michigan. They are known as dabbling ducks because of the way they upend themselves and put their heads underwater to eat. Male Mallard Ducks, known as drakes, have a green head and a yellow bill. Female Mallard Ducks, known as hens, are mostly a mottled brown with a small area of purple-blue feathers on each side. The scientific name for the Mallard Duck is Anas platyrhynchos.

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Canada Geese

Both the male and female Canada Geese are gray. They each have a black head and neck and a white stripe on the cheek. They spend the summer in Michigan, and most of them leave in the fall to fly south for the winter in V-shaped flocks. They return the following spring. The scientific name for the Canada Goose is Branta canadensis.

Click here to see more about Canada Geese and hear what they sound like.