Whooper Swan

The Whooper Swan is a majestic, large waterfowl with pure white plumage and distinctive yellow and black bill. Adults typically measure 140-165 cm in length, with a wingspan of 205-275 cm, making them one of the largest flying birds in the Northern Hemisphere.

Both sexes share identical plumage, but females are slightly smaller than males. Juveniles have greyish-brown plumage, gradually turning white as they mature.

The bill pattern, with its extensive yellow area reaching the tip, distinguishes Whooper Swans from other swan species. Their legs and webbed feet are black.

The whooper’s call is a loud, low pitched hooting sound, persistent during aggressive or triumphant behaviour but softer in contact situations with its mate or offspring. The sound can resemble an old fashioned car air horn.

Whooper swans occupy an extensive geographic range. The majority of whooper swans arriving in the UK, come from Iceland where they breed, arriving here in October and leaving again in late March. They can be found on farmland, estuaries, wetlands, freshwater lakes and coastal areas and mainly occupy these areas in Scotland, northern England and East Anglia. They also migrate directly to Northern Ireland where they can number approximately 20% of the UK’s total whooper swan population. Recent figures indicate there are in the region of up to 20,000 birds over wintering within the UK.

Whoopers are often confused with the Bewick’s Swan (the only other migratory swan in the UK) but Bewick’s are a lot smaller and whilst their bills have some yellow colouration it is not as prominent as the whooper’s and covers less area. Geographically the areas they occupy, apart from a few locations in East Anglia are also totally different.

Generally, whooper swans feed on aquatic plants, grass and grains and even potatoes and other waste crops found in ploughed fields.

It is very unlikely that you will come across breeding pairs within the United Kingdom as latest information indicates there are less than 30 breeding pairs across the UK and these are mainly in Scotland. Nests are built of reeds, moss and aquatic plants forming large mounds on dry shores or in shallow water. One brood consisting of 4 to 6 white eggs is laid between late April to June and incubated by the female for up to 40 days.

Whooper Swans are highly social birds, often seen in large flocks during migration and winter. They are strong fliers capable of long-distance flights at high altitudes.

These swans are known for their graceful swimming and upending behaviour while foraging in shallow waters.

The average lifespan is nine years although there have been ringed birds reaching over 25 years of age.

While currently listed as Least Concern, Whooper Swans face threats from habitat loss, particularly in their breeding grounds. Climate change may affect their migration patterns and breeding success.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetland habitats and monitoring population trends.

The whooper swan is a very large bird, in fact one of the largest members of the swan family. Adult whooper swans have white plumage with black legs and black webbed feet. They have a long slender neck and long yellow, triangular wedge shaped marking on their bill which extends past their nostrils. The tip of the bill is black in colour. They have a short tail and relatively short legs in comparison with body size. Juveniles are greyish all over with a pink or creamy coloured bill, tipped with black.