How do cygnets learn to fly?

Answer 1

I'm not an expert on this but I have worked in wildlife rehabilitation. Fledglings may spend a week (give or take a few days) on the ground before they can really fly. They will still be watched constantly and fed by their parents but that's basically a trial-and-error time, allowing them to develop their wings and learn, before they can fly. So if you see a fledgling spending a lot of time on the ground, don't worry, it's completely normal. If you assumed a fledgling was orphaned and took it into your care, you can put it back where it was and the parents will continue to care for it. Or, if you've had it away from it's parents for a while, or are convinced that it isn't being cared for, you can take it to a wildlife rehabilitator: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactA.htm. Don't try to care for a fledgling yourself. I don't know what the actual mental process is when the fledgling is learning. There's probably some imitation of mom and dad, but in the end that is their instinct and once they've developed and practiced enough, they can do it.

Answer 2

Baby swans do not learn to fly until they are around 6 months old. They learn to fly by observing their parents. It takes them about 14 weeks to learn to fly.