To beak, or not to beak?

Affectionately known as the the ‘swan selfie’ painting, this cheery chappy approaches with a smile. The focus on the beak drove the unusual ‘cut-off’ composition (no traditional portrait for this cygnus). The restrictions of a limited palette allowed a harmonious yellow beak reminiscent of a duck. That famous Hans Christian Anderson story comes to mind. Did the transformed swan retain some of the nurtured duck characteristics? What did they gain from their displaced beginnings?