Birds · Anseriformes · Anatidae

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Some birds make one of the most extreme non-stop migratory flights of any bird, crossing from Iceland to Scotland at altitudes of up to 8,000 metres. It pairs for life, with a 'divorce' rate of barely 6%.

Weight

7.4 kg – 15.5 kg

Size

1.4 m – 1.7 m

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterHerbivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Freshwater

29countries 77parks42same family

Fun facts

It flies non-stop from Iceland to Scotland at altitudes of up to 8,000 metres.
It pairs for life, with a 'divorce' rate of barely 6%.
It is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Lakes, rivers and wetlands of Iceland, northern Europe and Asia, moving to milder coastal country in winter
Birth weight: Exact weight at hatching not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Precocial, covered in grey or brown down, able to swim soon after hatching
Sexual maturity: 5-6 years
Gestation / incubation: 30-42 days
Litter / clutch size: 2 to 7 eggs per clutch (most commonly 4-5)

Sources consulted: AnAge; Birds of the World; Birda; Animalia.bio; Binocular Base; Oiseaux-birds.com; Wikipedia; Animal Diversity Web

Where to find it

See its range on the interactive map

Best time: From November to March on lakes, reservoirs and wetlands of northern Europe and Asia, when the winterers arrive from Iceland and Scandinavia.