Whooper Swans

Whooper Swans 

• Breeding season begins Mid May
• Clutch size 4-7 eggs
• Incubation period 36 days 
• 25-30 pounds 

all of our swans are pinioned

Whooper Swans are THE swan, Cygnus cygnus, the archetype of all that has been written through the centuries about swans. They have all white feathers, black bills that have a triangular yellow marking, and black feet.

These birds are big - averaging around 25-30 pounds, making them among the heaviest flying birds in the world. Not only can they fly, they migrate great distances. One migration path has been measured at 800 miles! The wing span of a Whooper Swan is between 81 and 102 inches.

The Whooper is the counterpart to the North American Trumpeter Swan. The two are similar, yet developed completely separately, on opposite sides of the globe. The Whooper Swan has a large range, from Iceland to Asia, with some reports of birds in western North America. They are migratory, and migrate to Europe, particularly Ireland, Scotland, and Britain, and across Asia.

Whoopers are less particular about their habitat than some other species of swans. They will inhabit fields, swamps, coastal areas, farmland, and just about any area with plenty of water.

Note: It does not breed well in captivity unless a secluded, sheltered nesting area is provided.