Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Anatidae — Ducks, Geese, Swans

Whooper Swan is a large swan of the northern hemisphere, Cygnus cygnus, in the Anatidae family and Anseriformes order. It breeds across the Palearctic in northern Eurasia. The species is monotypic, with no recognised subspecies. It is similar to Bewick’s Swan but is larger, and its bill pattern shows more yellow than black. Adults are white, while young birds are pale grey to greyish-brown. It is a long-distance migrant and can travel to wintering areas in southern Europe and eastern Asia. It pairs for life and nests close to water in thick cover.

Order
Anseriformes
Family
Anatidae — Ducks, Geese, Swans
Breeding range
Palearctic: n Eurasia
Nonbreeding range
w Europe and e China
Whooper Swan
© Judy Gallagher · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0