Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Whooper Swans breed in Iceland and the north of Europe and Asia. They migrate south in the winter to west and central Europe, to around the Black, Aral and Caspian Seas and to China and Japan.
Whooper Swan
For many years whoopers were considered almost exclusively 'hard weather' arrivals. But in recent winters impressive numbers have favoured Norfolk.
Whooper Swans feed extensively on the leaves, seeds and roots of plants growing in shallow water.
Whooper swans are large migratory birds that often fly in large 'V' formations. They can be distinguished from Bewick swans by their larger size, and from mute swans by their yellow bill colour.
Scientific name: Cygnus cygnus
Rank: Species ...
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.
Whooper Swans, Hokkaido
This Month in Photo of the Day: National Geographic Magazine Features
Pale as moonlight, whoopers settle down for the night ...
Whooper Swan, Cygnus cygnus breeds in Iceland and subarctic Europe and Asia, migrating to temperate Europe and Asia in winter.
Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator is the largest North American swan.
Whooper Swan, Cygnus cygnus
Tundra Swan, Cygnus columbianus
Swan Goose, Anser cygnoides
Bean Goose, Anser fabalis
Greater White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons
Lesser White-fronted Goose, Anser erythropus
Greylag Goose, Anser anser ...
columbianus and the following species: Australian black swan (C. atratus), mute swan (C. olor), whooper swan (C. cygnus), trumpeter swan (C. buccinator), and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) [6].
In Mongolia, at Erhel Lake, the main species found dead or dying with H5N1 in July 2005 were Bar-headed Geese and Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus, and a small number were found to be infected with H5N1.
During the winter months you may also see the whooper swan and Bewick's swan.
Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
Greater bulldog bat (Noctilio leporinus)
Ptychadena (Ptychadena newtoni)
Okinawa rail (Gallirallus okinawae)
California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) ...
In the far northwest, a subspecies of the Tundra Swan shows more yellow at the base of the bill and could be confused with the Alaskan Whooper Swan. The Whooper Swan has yellow in the bill that goes beyond the nostril.
One remarkable report from a Northern Ireland air radar station showed a flock of migrating birds traveling at 29,000 feet. They were visually identified as Whooper Swans by a passing airline pilot. More ...
 See also: Swan, Trumpeter, Geese, Wigeon, Scoter
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