The whooper swan is a large white swan, bigger than a Bewick's swan. It has a long thin neck, which it usually holds erect, and black legs. Its black bill has a large triangular patch of yellow on it. It is mainly a winter visitor to the UK from Iceland, although a couple of pairs nest in the north. The estuaries and wetlands it visits on migration and for winter roosts need protection. Its winter population and small breeding numbers make it an Amber List species.
Key ID Features:
Larger than Bewick's Swan and similar in size to Mute Swan.
Triangular yellow patch (pinkish in juvenile) on black bill extends beyond nostrils towards tip.
Overview
Scientific name: Cygnus cygnus
Family: Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae)
Where to see them:
Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and parts of East Anglia and less frequently in southern England.
Seen in UK:
October to March
What they eat
Aquatic plants, grass, grain, potatoes
Text (c) RSPB, used with permission
For more information click here
Photographer: Tim Tapley
