This story appears in the December 2010 issue of National Geographic magazine. From the swirl of its initial letter to its sighing vowel and feather-soft final consonant, the very word—"swan ...

Young whooper swans practice flying in Rongcheng, Shandong province, to prepare for their upcoming long-distance migration. [Photo by Li Xinjun/For chinadaily.com.cn] Young whooper swans have ...