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Bewick's Swan

Cygnus bewickii

Not yet photographed by the community

Smaller winter swan; rounded yellow bill patch.

Species Profile

Amber List (UK); of European concern due to reliance on key wintering sites.

Lifespan: 15–20 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 115–127 cm long, wingspan 170–195 cm; 5.5–7.5 kg
Habitat: Breeds in Arctic tundra; winters on shallow lakes, rivers, and coastal waters with freshwater access.
UK Distribution: Winter visitor, arriving September to March, with largest numbers in the Severn Estuary, Norfolk Broads, and other wetlands. Rare breeder in the UK.
Diet: Herbivorous; grazes on aquatic vegetation, grass, and winter crops; dabbles and upends to feed underwater.
Predators: Foxes, stoats, and eagles; chicks vulnerable to gulls and corvids; adults occasionally preyed upon by white-tailed eagles.
Mating Season: May to June
Breeding: Clutch of 3–5 eggs; incubation period 29–30 days; single brood per year. Young fledge at 8–9 weeks.
Behaviour: Highly social, wintering in flocks and maintaining strong pair bonds for life. Recognisable by distinctive rounded head profile and yellow-and-black bill pattern. Known for loyal return to traditional wintering grounds.

Did You Know?

•Each individual Bewick's Swan has a unique yellow-and-black facial pattern, allowing researchers to identify and track individuals over decades.
•The species is named after the 18th-century engraver Thomas Bewick, a pioneer of British ornithology.
•Bewick's Swans undertake one of the longest migrations of any swan species, flying over 3,000 km from Russian Arctic breeding grounds to UK wintering sites.
•They are monogamous and often bring their cygnets to the same wintering grounds year after year, creating multi-generational family groups.
•The Severn Estuary hosts one of the world's most important wintering populations, sometimes exceeding 5,000 individuals.

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