Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus

The Whooper Swan is a beautiful bird with a long neck and white feathers. They are known for their loud, trumpeting calls and can often be seen swimming gracefully on lakes and rivers.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Whooper Swan has striking black and bright yellow markings on its bill and a distinctly straight neck. Its large body is covered in pure white feathers, making it highly visible on water. Young swans, called cygnets, are grey-brown and gradually turn white.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderAnseriformesFamilyAnatidaeGenusCygnus

Whooper Swan

Interesting facts

A group of flying swans is called a "wedge."

Swans can drink saltwater, thanks to special glands!

Their unique call gives them their "whooper" name!

They often fly in a V-shape, saving energy for the flock.

Special abilities

Whooper Swans can make loud, trumpet-like calls that help them communicate across long distances, especially during migration.

Whooper Swans have a long, flexible neck that allows them to reach aquatic plants deep underwater for food.

Whooper Swans have powerful wings and strong bodies to fly thousands of kilometers, enduring harsh weather on their migrations.

Measurements & details

Length: 140-165 cm
Wingspan: 205-275 cm
Weight: 7.4-14 kg
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Top Speed: 70 km/h
Clutch Size: 4-7
Incubation: 31-42 days
Migration Distance: 4000 km

Diet & Feeding

Whooper Swans are plant-eaters, feasting on tasty aquatic plants, roots, and sometimes grain.

Age differences: Young cygnets may eat some aquatic invertebrates for protein before switching fully to plants.

Primary Foods

Aquatic plants
Roots
Stems
Seeds
Grasses
Grains

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Broad-leaved Pondweed

Potamogeton natans

A favorite aquatic plant for swans to feed on.

eaten by

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

May try to prey on eggs or young cygnets in some areas.

shelters

Common Reed

Phragmites australis

Often used by swans to build large, protective nests near water.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Webbed Feet

Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Singing

Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species.

Filter Feeder

Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.