Page 93 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Cygnus cygnus
Whooper Swan long yellow
wedge on side
of bill extends
beyond nostrils
slender
neck
ADULT
(TAKING OFF) long neck
black
tip
ADULT long, flat all-white
forehead plumage
IN FLIGHT and bill
short tail
greyish horizontal,
body pinkish or creamy,
black-tipped bill

short legs
JUVENILE
larger version of Bewick’s Swan, but
A breeding in less northerly areas, the Whooper ADULT
Swan often winters in separate areas, although in places it can
be found together with the Mute Swan and Bewick’s Swan.The
Whooper Swan is a wild, usually shy bird, far less approachable than FLIGHT: powerful and direct; regular wingbeats
the Mute Swan and, like Bewick’s, usually more terrestrial.Although with little wing noise.
equally large, it is a more agile bird than the Mute Swan; however,
the Whooper Swan lacks the arch-necked elegance (it holds its neck
bolt upright and head horizontal) and rich bill colours of the latter.
VOICE Loud trumpeting call, slightly lower-pitched; simpler bugling
than Bewick’s Swan, often three or four syllables instead of two.
NESTING Big, domed structure of grass and reed stems at water’s
edge or built up from bottom of
shallow lake; 5–8 eggs; 1 brood;
April–June. UPRIGHT NECKS
FEEDING Plucks leaves and Whooper Swans have long, slim necks, held upright,
stems from short vegetation on with head horizontal, when alert.
dry ground, or digs roots and
waste crops from ploughed DENSE FLOCKS
earth; feeds on aquatic plants Whooper Swans are found in dense flocks on a few
mostly in summer. nature reserves where they are fed.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in Scandinavia and Iceland
BEWICK’SSWAN less yellow on bill on remote pools; in winter locally
see p.92
rounder across NW and C to SE Europe on
head
large lakes and marshes. Increasing
smaller numbers winter on reserves with
Bewick’s Swans, taking advantage
of artificial feeding.
MUTE SWAN reddish Seen in the UK
see p.90 orange bill JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 1.4–1.6m (4 1 ⁄2 –5 1 ⁄4ft) Wingspan 2.05–2.35m (6 3 ⁄4 –7 3 ⁄4ft) Weight 9–11kg (20–24lb)
Social Flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure
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