Whooper Swan

Whooper Swans, pronounced ‘Hooper’, are a winter visitor to Britain, migrating from Iceland in late autumn and returning again in the spring.

Whooper Swans pair for life and their cygnets migrate with their parents and stay together in a family group throughout winter.

The Whooper Swan is a large white swan, with a long thin neck, which it usually holds erect. They have a yellow and black bill, black legs and make a deep honking call, similar to an old fashioned car horn.

They often feed in fields during the day, eating leftover potato and grain crops. They also eat aquatic plants and grass. Once they have finished eating for the day, they head back to roost on open water.

Whooper Swans and Bewick’s Swans are very similar and can be easily mixed up. Whopper Swans have more yellow on its yellow and black bill with the yellow being ‘V’ shaped. The Bewick’s Swan have a more oval, rounded yellow patch on their bill. Whooper Swans are also larger than the Bewick’s Swan.