How do young ducks, geese, and swans differ in their first migrations?

Young ducks, geese, and swans differ significantly in how they approach their first migration after fledging:

• Ducks: Upon reaching the fledging stage, young ducks must undertake their first migration independently. Their migratory direction is innate, meaning they set off in the correct general direction even without guidance from older birds. While they possess an innate ability to determine direction using the Sun and stars, they must learn the specific details of these celestial movements as well as the characteristics of their home and wintering sites.12
• Geese and Swans: Unlike ducks, young geese and swans remain with their parents during their first winter. They migrate to and from their wintering grounds in the company of their parents. This allows them to learn the specific landmarks, such as chains of lakes and rivers, over which they fly, effectively "map reading" for their subsequent migrations.12

While migratory behavior in all these species involves a complex interweaving of innate and learned responses, the reliance on parental guidance in geese and swans makes their migratory behavior highly modifiable compared to the more independent, innate-driven start of young ducks.2