[Length 19 in. Wingspan 30 in.]

This drake Northern Shoveler was photographed at Port Aransas Birding Center, Port Aransas, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 70-200mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=390mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: March 4, 2006)

[Length 19 in. Wingspan 30 in.]

This female Northern Shoveler was photographed at Port Aransas Birding Center, Port Aransas, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 70-200mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens (EFL=300mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: March 4, 2006)

[Length 19 in. Wingspan 30 in.]

This female Northern Shoveler was photographed at Lake Balmorhea, Balmorhea, TX. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens + Nikkor TC20E II 2.0x Teleconverter (EFL=900mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: December 19, 2008)

[Length 19 in. Wingspan 30 in.]

This male Northern Shoveler was photographed at Lakeside Park, Andrews, TX. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: November 9, 2009)

[Length 16 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This drake Smew was photographed at St. James Park, London, England, and is presumed to be part of the captive waterfowl collection there. Photo taken with a Nikkor EDAF 300 f4.0 lens on Kodak Elitechrome 200 film. (Date: April 2002)

[Length 16 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This drake Smew was photographed at St. James Park, London, England, and is presumed to be part of the captive waterfowl collection there. Photo taken with a Nikkor EDAF 300 f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: April 2002)

[Length 16 in. Wingspan 26 in.]

This female Smew was photographed at St. James Park, London, England, and is presumed to be part of the captive waterfowl collection there. Photo taken with a Nikkor EDAF 300 f4.0 lens on Kodak Elitechrome 200 film. (Date: April 2002)

[Length 60 in. Wingspan 75 in.]

The Mute Swan gets its name from the fact that it is usually silent and only hisses or grunts when alarmed. Mute Swans occur naturally in Europe and central Asia. They were introduced in many metropolitan city parks of the eastern US. Some of these birds have spread to wilder habitats and established feral populations. They are easily recognized by their large size, their graceful "S" shaped neck, and their habit of arching their wings up over their back like the sails of a ship. This one was photographed in February in a small unfrozen portion of Old Sam's Pond along the coast of central New Jersey. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: November 1983)