Whooper swan  (Cygnus cygnus)

Whooper swans breed across northern Eurasia (5). Most of the whooper swans that spend the winter in Britain and Ireland originate from the population that breeds in Iceland (4). The population breeding in north-western Europe winters in Denmark and parts of Germany, and there are two western Siberian breeding populations; one winters in the eastern Mediterranean while the other migrates to the area around the Caspian Sea (4). In Britain a few pairs occasionally try to breed in Scotland, but with varying success (3). The British wintering population is mainly northern, with most birds occurring north of a line drawn between the Wirral to the Humber (5). Further south of this, only small flocks occur with the exception of the Ouse Washes and Anglesey (5).

Whooper swans make use of a wider range of habitats than Bewick’s swans (5). They are found on lowland farmland close to the coast, on flooded fields, mudflats, lakes and small ponds and lochs and will graze on farmland in winter (3) (5). They breed in boggy habitats with pools and small lakes where there are plenty of reeds and other sheltering vegetation (2) (3).