Mute Swan cygnet Cygnus olor

A young swan is known as a cygnet. When first hatched from the egg it looks more like a fluffy grey duckling with its short neck.

"Ride a white swan . . ."

Longer neck but still fluffy and grey-brown, then fluff turning to feathers (above right).

Above left: full juvenile feathers, still brown but beginning to turn white; beak beginning to turn pink. Above right: almost white; beak almost red with top knob developing.

Foster parents?