I live on a cove on Barnegat Bay in the Toms River area of the New Jersey shoreline wetlands. Hundreds of swans live on the Bay year-round. Canada geese frequent the Bay in Spring, Summer and Fall. This summer (2007), I noticed what looks like a dusty, grayish-brown swan with reddish-pink eyes and a reddish bill. The feather coloring is consistent over the entire body. Iím calling it a swan because it moves along the Bay with the usual white swans. Iíve noticed this swan having ďspatsĒ with its white swan companions. Sorry, I do not have any pictures of this swan.
My question: Is what Iím observing a species/subspecies of the usual white swan, or could it be a cross between a Canada goose and a white swan?