The Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) is a large white swan, with a long neck, a black and yellow bill and black legs. It has a large (up to 160cm) wing span and is one of the heaviest flying birds. It eats aquatic plants, grass and grains and spends much of its time swimming and straining the water for food. When developing they spend a lot of time in the water as they cannot support their weight for long on dry land.
The swans mate for life and new cygnets stay with the parents all winter. It is mainly a winter visitor to the UK although there are a few pairs nesting in the north. Its winter population and small breeding numbers make it an Amber List species.
These birds were photographed in Lake Kussharo in Japan.
