The RSPB: Whooper swan

Conservation status: Amber

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.

Overview

Latin name

Cygnus cygnus

Family

Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae)

Where to see them

Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and parts of East Anglia.

When to see them

October to March

What they eat

Aquatic plants, grass, grain, potatoes

Population

Europe	UK breeding*	UK wintering*	UK passage*
-	3-7 wild pairs	11,000 birds	-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.