# Swans making a heart shape **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2002, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swans-making-a-heart-shape/110260 "2002-05-22T06:20:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swans-making-a-heart-shape/110260/1 "2002-05-22T06:20:58Z")
I saw two white swans put their beaks together forming a heart shape with their long necks. Has anyone else observed this? I suspect they were perhaps engaged in some mating ritual. Could this be where we get the traditional Valentine heart symbol? ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swans-making-a-heart-shape/110260/2 "2002-05-22T07:33:11Z")
- - - Yea right! -Yer ass! - DougC ---
**Author:** ![Nenya\_Elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@Nenya\_Elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nenya_Elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swans-making-a-heart-shape/110260/3 "2002-05-22T11:35:00Z")
??? **DougC**??? ---
**Author:** ![odd-socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@odd-socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/odd-socks)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swans-making-a-heart-shape/110260/4 "2002-05-22T11:45:51Z")
I’ve seen it many times, but as to why they do it - no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swans-making-a-heart-shape/110260/5 "2002-05-22T14:19:22Z")
This photo (1st thumbnail) is sort of what I saw: [http://www.natureportfolio.com/birds/muteswan.htm](http://www.natureportfolio.com/birds/muteswan.htm) The swans I observed were in Stratford-upon-Avon. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swans-making-a-heart-shape/110260/6 "2002-05-23T02:09:33Z")
My understanding of the courtship rituals of Mute Swans, is that consists of extended “ballets” of matched movement. So, yeah I’m sure it is a courtship display of some sort. As to it possibly influencing the shape of the Valentine-style heart, I wouldn’t be surprised. Especially as I believe swans were a symbol of fidelity ( as well as poetic harmony ) in medieval Europe. Certainly I’ve seen that courting manouevre used in things like cartoons and greeting cards to symbolize hearts and eternal love. On the other hand, here is the Perfect Master’s take on the Valentine-shape: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_146.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_146.html) - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swans-making-a-heart-shape/110260/7 "2002-05-23T05:24:20Z")
Dave Barry wrote a column one time about an astute reader’s search through an anatomy book for _any_ body part which physically resembled the well-known heart shape. The only one which was remotely close? [The prostate](http://www.s-t.com/daily/03-97/03-02-97/e02li348.htm). He attempted to verify this fact thusly: > [@](#): > > \*\*In an effort to gauge the extent of this crisis, I called the Hallmark greeting-card company, which is located in Missouri (also known as “Kansas”). I spoke with spokesperson Allison Novela and told her about the heart/prostate situation. She checked into it, and, a short while later, she called back to read this statement, which I am not making up: > > "The doctor is correct about the shape of the human heart. However, Hallmark decided to sacrifice accuracy for sales after the poor performance of the following verse: > > _“Valentine, I’d follow you clear 'cross state, > For you to hold the key to my prostate.”_\*\*