How to identify

Bewick's Swan adults are white all over with a black and yellow bill, while young birds are greyish with a pinkish bill. Compared to the similar Whooper Swan, these swans have proportionally more black and less yellow on their bill. They're also smaller than both Mute and Whooper Swans and have faster wingbeats. Bewick's Swans are a Schedule 1 species, meaning it's illegal to intentionally or recklessly disturb them.

Key

  1. Resident
  2. Passage
  3. Summer
  4. Winter
* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Key facts