Bewick's swan  (Cygnus columbianus bewickii)

Bewick's swan is a subspecies of Cygnus columbianus. Another subspecies of this swan is the Tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus), which occurs in North America (4). Bewick's swan breeds in the Arctic tundra across northern Russia. Birds from the western part of this breeding range migrate to spend the winter further south in lowland areas of northern Europe from Denmark to France and the British Isles (4). The eastern population spends the winter in China, Korea and Japan (7). In Britain the largest wintering populations are found in eastern England (4). Very large flocks occur at the Ouse Washes and in Gloucestershire at Slimbridge (6).

In its Russian breeding range, this swan is found on wet swampy grasslands (3). In Britain it overwinters in wet pastures, lakes, reservoirs, saltmarshes and flooded grasslands (3).