number of sygnets a swan can have at one time

[x-ray]

We have today seen a swan with 16 young cygnets which was surprising - how many do they usually have ?

[Mamyalynne]

That is unusual different swans have varying amounts though usually in single figures. There was whooper that had 9 in 2008 and that was seen to be arecord.

[x-ray]

Thanks for your replies mamya and Noth3.
We saw this family of swans at Painshill Park in Surrey this afternoon. There was the adult (presumably female) with these 16 little ones all together. They were all quite small and young, but all the same size. Other people were as surprised as us at seeing 16.....usually you only see about 6 or so.
We wondered whether she had fostered some but this seems unlikely. Perhaps being in a nature reserve where they are undoubtably safer, maybe their families are bigger.
Lovely sight though....isn't nature wonderful.

[owllady]

Swans do use the equivalent of a creche, with one pair looking after others young.This might have been what had happened.