Birds and wildlife

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnusGroup: Ducks, geese and swansUK Conservation status:Amber

How to identify

The Whooper Swan is a large white swan, bigger than a Bewick's Swan. It has a long neck, which it usually holds straight, and black legs. Its black bill has a large triangular patch of yellow on it. It's mainly a winter visitor to the UK from Iceland, although a small number of pairs nest in the north. The estuaries and wetlands it visits on migration and for winter roosts need protection. Its winter population and small breeding numbers make it an Amber List species. It is also a Schedule 1 listed bird, meaning it is illegal to disturb them.

Call

Whooper Swan

Matthias Feuersenger / xeno-canto

Key features to look out for

  • Adults are white, juveniles are pale grey
  • Long, slim neck – usually held with a slight curve near the base
  • Bright yellow beak with a black tip – the yellow forms a triangular patch (a bit like a wedge of cheese!) that extends past the nostrils
  • Young birds have a pink and black beak
  • Compared to a Bewick’s Swan, the Whooper has a longer beak with more yellow, and is larger overall

Conservation status

Whooper Swans are on the Amber List on the UK's Birds of Conservation Concern. Although there is some evidence that the numbers wintering in the UK are going up due to an increase in the Icelandic population, they face ongoing threats from avian flu and habitat loss.   

Where and when to see them

Difficulty rating - Moderate

Whooper Swans usually start arriving in the UK in October and leave again in March and April.

As Whooper Swans gather in fairly large numbers, they aren’t difficult to see as long as you go to the right places at the right time! Head to a site known to have Whooper Swans and ask fellow birdwatchers or reserve staff for where to find them. 

Whooper Swans can be seen in winter in much of Scotland and there are also some large populations further south in England. Top spots to see them include RSPB Loch of Strathbeg in Aberdeenshire, Loch Leven in Perth and Kinross, Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire and Portmore Lough in County Antrim.

Whooper Swan
‘Cambridgeshire’s biggest wildlife spectacle’

Up to 6,500 Whooper Swans have been counted on Cambridgeshire’s RSPB Ouse Washes nature reserve creating a white feathered winter wonderland that can be seen at dawn.

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.
UK distribution map for Whooper Swan
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Where best to see them

Behaviour

During the day, Whooper Swans often gather in fields to nibble grass and feast on leftover potatoes and grain. As evening approaches, they head back to wetlands, where they feed on aquatic plants and roost out on the open water overnight.

These big birds are real high-flyers, they fly non-stop across hundreds of miles of open ocean and can reach astonishing heights. An airline pilot once reported seeing a flock of swans, thought to be Whoopers, at about 8,000 metres (26,250 feet) – that’s almost as high as Mount Everest!

Call/song

Whooper Swans have a call that’s hard to miss – imagine a child trying to play the trumpet and you’re not far off! They often call while flying in groups, creating a lively, tooting chorus, that sounds a bit like an out-of-tune brass band playing overhead.

Nesting

The vast majority of Whooper Swans nest on the tundra in Iceland and Scandinavia, but some pairs have been recorded breeding in the UK, particularly in Shetland and the Outer Hebrides. They build their nest on the ground and the female lays three to five eggs.    

Whooper Swan, group feeding in sugar beet field
Whooper Swan
Your guide to the UK’s swan species

Get to know these snow-white beauties with our handy ID guide.

Key facts