Differences between Stork and Swan

Stork and Swan are two classes of birds that belong to the Ciconiidae and Anatidae families respectively.

Stork is a large wading bird with long legs and long beak. Its beak and legs are usually red in color, while its eyes are grey. The color of its body could be streaks of white, black, and red depending on the geography. The bird’s head and upper neck are usually not covered with feathers. The Stork is almost mute as it has an undeveloped syrinx. The Stork family consists of about 20 species of birds such as Marabou Stork and Adjutant Stork. The family is related to Herons, Ibises, and Flamingos.

Swans are intelligent, graceful, large birds belonging to the waterfowl genus. They have a long neck, big feet, and an orange-colored strong beak. Their eyesight is sharp and their auditory capacity is robust. They are also capable of producing a variety of sounds. Swans living in the northern hemisphere are known to have pure white plumage, while those in the southern hemisphere have a combination of white and black plumage.

Where are Stork and Swan found?

Storks choose to live near marshes, grasslands, meadows, rivers, ponds, and lakes. They are not prevalent across the world. They exist chiefly in Asia, Africa, and Europe. One bird from their species can be found in Australia, while three others occur around Argentina and Florida.

Swans live near waterbodies like sluggish rivers, marshes, shallow ponds, and quiet lakes. The need an expanse of water or flat land to take off and land. The northern hemisphere is home to about five species of Swans, while there is one species each in South America and Australia.

What do Stork and Swan eat?

Storks are carnivores that mainly eat fish. They also feed on reptiles, insects, amphibians, mice, worms, mollusks, crustaceans, and even small alligators. They generally capture their prey in fields and shallow waters.

Swans are mostly herbivorous. They eat a variety of aquatic vegetation besides grazing on fields. While pecking food from waterbeds, the birds may also swallow molluscs, small fish, frogs, algae, beetles, insects, and worms.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Stork and Swan

• Both Stork and Swan eat Fish.
• Both Stork and Swan eat Frogs.
• Stork do eat Lizards while Swan may not eat Lizards.
• Stork do eat Snakes while Swan may not eat Snakes.
• Stork do eat Turtles while Swan may not eat Turtles.
• Stork do eat Squirrels while Swan may not eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Stork while Swan do not eat Gophers.
• Baby Ducks are commonly eaten by Stork while Swan do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Stork do eat Mice while Swan may not eat Mice.

Size of Stork and Swan?

When it comes to size, Storks are huge birds. They are about two to five feet tall with wide wings that measure over 10 feet. The biggest storks in the world are the Shoebill and Marabou that stand five feet tall.. Swans are the largest among waterfowls and have huge bodies. They are usually about four feet tall and measure around five feet from the bill to their tail. Their wingspan could be 8-10 feet wide. The Trumpeter Swan of Canada and western USA is the biggest of Swan species with a height of 5.5 feet and a wingspan of 10 feet.

Average weight of Storks is 3-17 pounds depending on the species. Marabou is the largest species and weighs around 17 pounds. while The average weight of an adult Swan is 15-30 pounds. The males weigh heavier at 24-28 pounds, while the females weigh 21-23 pounds. The Trumpeter Swan is the heaviest among Swan species at around 30 pounds.

Where do Stork and Swan nest?

Storks build their nests on trees and shrubs that stand in flooded water. They do so to keep predators away from eating the eggs. Both male and female birds participate in the construction of the nest, besides sharing the responsibility to incubate them for about five weeks, after which the eggs hatch. Baby Storks usually fledge 50-65 days after hatching. An interesting fact about parenting in Storks is that the parents sometimes throw some chicks out of the nests so that they can feed the healthy chicks well and support their survival.

Swans generally build their nests in shallow and uncontaminated waters where there is sufficient food supply. The nests are closer to the shore and could either float on water or remain on marshes. They are usually made of dried grass, sticks, and plant material. The partners usually take two to five weeks to build the nest. The blue-grey eggs are incubated by both the male and female. They hatch after 35-41 days of laying. The young ones, known as cygnets, will be able to run and swim within few hours after hatching. Nevertheless, they also ride on the backs of their parents and fledge when they are four to five months old.

How long do Stork and Swan live?

Storks can live for over 30 years in the wild. They have been known to live up to 35 years in captivity. The longest living species was a White Stork that lived for 39 years in Switzerland.

Swans live for about 9-12 years in the wild, where they face several threats like predators, lead poisoning, fishing net injuries, electric poles, and flying accidents. However, in captivity Swans can live up to 30 years. The longest-lived Swan was a Mute Swan, which died at the age of 40 years in 2009 in Denmark.

Are Stork or Swan migratory birds?

Storks migrate during winters to warmer regions as they cannot find food in colder weather. They are known to migrate long distances, for instance from Europe to Africa, sub-Saharan region to South Africa or India. They mostly migrate in huge groups.

Most species of Swans migrate during winters in search of food sources. Some species in the wild do not migrate at all. The Mute Swans of Europe do not migrate or only travel short distances. The Whooper Swan, also from Europe, is a migratory species that starts travelling in September-October. The Trumpeter Swans migrate during winters from North America to warmer regions. The Bewick’s Swan migrates from Russia to western Europe and eastern Asia. The Australian Black Swan migrates within the country depending on climatic conditions.

Do Stork and Swan fly in flocks?

A group of Storks is known as a muster of Storks or a phalanx of Storks. These birds are highly sociable. They stay together and migrate in massive flocks that can even encompass a thousand birds. However, during the breeding season they prefer smaller groups or solitude.

A group of Swans is called a bevy or herd. Swans are sociable and flock together. They congregate in fields when some of the Swans find a food source. However, they follow a pecking order, where the senior birds must be revered highly. A group of Swans can sometimes be very noisy, making different types of sounds. Swans also migrate together, sometimes in gatherings of up to a 100.

Are Stork or Swan protected?

Storks are a protected species in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Conservation laws like the African Conservation Action Plan and the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement have come up in response to concerns of the International Union for Conservation of Nature that the Black Storks are not protected satisfactorily.

Swans are not protected in the USA as they are not native to the land. The birds can be hunted with a legal permit. The Mute Swans in the UK are all owned by the Queen and protected from killing. Hunting and killing of Swans is not allowed in several parts of Europe. Some Japanese Swans are protected under the International Treaty for Conservation. Similarly, Black Swans are protected in Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife Acts.

Are Stork or Swan endangered?

Storks are extant birds. They had become extinct in the UK about 500 years back but emerged back in the 1970s. They have however become extinct in Japan, Korea, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. The Adjutant Stork is endangered in India and Cambodia, and the Painted Stork is critically endangered in parts of Asia. Very few Storks are also left in Italy due to widespread poaching.

The Trumpeter Swans were close to extinction in the USA in 1935. However, their population has recovered in the national parks. They are no longer considered endangered. The Bewick’s Swans of northwestern Europe are encountering a decline in population, probably due to climate change. Swans are believed to have existed in large numbers in India but are extinct now. A lone Mute Swan was however spotted in the state of Gujarat in 2022.

Can Stork and Swan fly?

Storks fly with their neck and legs stretched out. They flap and soar with their broad wings, using thermal air currents. They can reach altitudes of 1,500 metres above sea level and touch speeds of over 110 miles per hour. During migration, they fly nearly 4,400 miles.

Swans are the fastest flying waterfowls. They need a large area of water or ground to take off and land. They fly with their necks stretched out, while beating their wings slowly. They can clock speeds of 18-30 miles an hour, and fly at altitudes of 6,000-8,000 feet. The birds are known to fly several hundreds of miles a day during migration, when they fly in groups through diagonal or V formations. Baby Swans start flying when they are about six months old. The Mute Swan is the fastest of all Swan species as it can fly at a speed of 50 miles an hour.

Can Stork and Swan swim?

Storks are not swimmers. They do not prefer deep waters and usually choose shallow waters for their habitat.

Swans are also remarkable swimmers. They have strong webbed feet that enable them to swim at good speeds. The Mute Swan is the fastest swimming Swan species. It can achieve speeds of 1.6 miles an hour.

Mating patterns among Stork and Swan

Storks start breeding when they are about four years old. The male bird is the first one to arrive at the nesting site. He initiates by building a nest or revamping an existing one and ducking on it. The male and female engage in elaborate mating dances. They raise a single brood each year, which consists of two to five eggs.

Swans start mating when they are four to seven years old, although they are likely to find a partner by the time they are two years old. Courtship involves partners staring at each other, nodding their heads while facing one another, and beating their wings instantaneously. The partners usually lock their necks while mating. The female lays up to seven eggs, although not all at once. Both partners involve themselves in the construction of nests and incubation of eggs. The male is more aggressive in protecting the eggs and little ones from predators.

When is the mating season for Stork and Swan ?

The breeding season for Storks is generally the spring. This is usually from the start of February till the end of April.

Mating among Swans may occur at any time of the year. However, in the northern hemisphere, the breeding season is generally from March to May each year. It is May-September in the southern hemisphere.

Do Stork and Swan mate for life?

Storks are known to be monogamous and faithful to their partners during every breeding season and even for a few years. They may find new partners during migrations or in consecutive breeding seasons. In case of monogamous partners, they generally revisit their nesting site and use the same nests with little restoration.

Swans are monogamous birds. They stay together throughout their lives. However, when one of them dies, the surviving partner may find a new partner.

How do Stork and Swan sleep?

Storks roost in colonies. They sleep on trees and shrubs surrounded by water. Some storks even sleep standing on one leg in water.

Swans can sleep both on land and water, but they mostly sleep in water to avoid attacks from predators. While in water, they can sleep while standing on one or both legs. They can also sleep while floating on water by tucking their heads below their wings. The younger Swans generally sleep on the backs of their parents to keep themselves safe and warm.

Can Stork and Swan be eaten?

Storks are edible and some people do eat them. However, the bird is protected, and it is illegal to kill them for food.

Swans were a delicacy in ancient times. However, in modern era, they are allowed to be eaten only in a few places. In the UK, only the Royals can eat the Mute Swans. In the USA, some people eat them as hunting the bird with permits is allowed. Swans are also eaten in Denmark.

Can you hunt Stork or Swan?

Thousands of White Storks lose their lives every year due to illegal hunting for sport, especially in Lebanon and Italy. The birds are also shot for their meat. All this is despite existence of laws to protect the bird.

Hunting Swans was common in medieval times when eating their meat was a felicity. Owning Swans in Europe was also a mark of dignity. However, conservation laws in many countries no longer allow hunting of Swans. In some countries like the USA, hunting is allowed only with legal permit.

Can you feed Stork or Swan?

Feeding wild animals and birds in public places is not permitted in places like USA, Singapore, and Dubai. Storks are huge birds and need to be fed a lot of food. In captivity, these birds are fed with fish, frogs, small birds, earthworms, lizards, and meat.

Feeding Swans in public is not permitted in some countries. In the UK, citizens are requested to not feed the birds with bread as it is leading to ill-health among the birds. Swans are largely herbivores. Feeding them cookies, pastries, and bread will cause health hazards like digestive and reproductive problems. At the zoos, Swans are given leaves, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, and potatoes. They are also allowed to graze on grass.