It makes swans fitting symbols of love and devotion. Trumpeter swans on the St. Croix River near Hudson, Wis. (Marlin Levison ...

From the swirl of its initial letter to its sighing vowel and feather-soft final consonant, the very word—"swan"—suggests grace. Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky did not, after all, write Duck Pond.

Today the beautiful mute swan is the animal found on Valentine’s Day cards – courting mute swans often make love heart shapes with their necks during the mating season. The series celebrates ...