How is the whooper swan different from the mute swan?

The whooper swan has a straight neck held upright and a yellow-and-black bill rather than the mute swan's orange bill and curved neck, and it announces itself with a loud whooping call rather than staying largely silent.

How long do whooper swans live?

Wild birds typically live around 10 to 15 years, though captive individuals have been recorded living past 25 years, and one wild Japanese individual was confirmed alive 25 years and 10 months after being ringed.

Whooper Swanオオハクチョウ

Cygnus cygnusLC— Least Concern

The whooper swan is a large, all-white swan named for its loud, bugling call, breeding across subarctic Eurosiberia and migrating south to winter in coastal Europe and East Asia, including Japan. One of the heaviest flying birds in the world, it feeds mainly on aquatic vegetation and has long been celebrated in folklore, including as Finland's national bird.

Whooper Swan (reference photo) — Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Anseriformes / Anatidae Source
Size: 140–165 cm; wingspan 205–275 cm
Weight: Males about 7.4–15 kg / females about 8.2–9.2 kg; among the heaviest of all flying birds
Lifespan: Said to be about 10–15 years in the wild. The longest record in captivity exceeds 25 years; in Japan, a bird confirmed 25 years 10 months after its release set the record for oldest age
Diet: Herbivore Feeds mainly on the leaves, stems, and roots of aquatic plants, and sometimes on invertebrates such as insects and mollusks
Distribution: Breeds across subarctic Eurosiberia and winters in areas such as southern Europe, the Black Sea and Caspian Sea coasts, coastal China, Korea, and Japan. Source
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

Its nest is a cone-shaped mound up to 2 meters in diameter and 50 cm high; the incubation period is about 31 days, and chicks become capable of flight 78 to 96 days after hatching. Source
It has been Finland's national bird since 1981 and is depicted on the Finnish national design of the 1 euro coin. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3

Kiryuugaoka DoubutsuenGunmaIf driving, set your car navigation to "Kiryugaoka Amusement Park" (Kiryugaoka Yuenchi) rather than "Kiryugaoka Zoo" to reach the parking lot (searching by the zoo name may give an incorrect route).

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Kushiroshi DoubutsuenHokkaidoAbout 55 minutes from JR Kushiro Station by Akan Bus, or about 27 minutes (18 km) by car, taxi, or rental car.

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Hamamatsu Zoological GardensShizuokaOpened in 1950

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Least Concern (LC)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

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Visit: A visit itself helps support the facility.
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Furusato Nozei: Municipally run facilities may share official guidance for this Japanese hometown-tax program.

FAQ

How is the whooper swan different from the mute swan?: The whooper swan has a straight neck held upright and a yellow-and-black bill rather than the mute swan's orange bill and curved neck, and it announces itself with a loud whooping call rather than staying largely silent. Source
How long do whooper swans live?: Wild birds typically live around 10 to 15 years, though captive individuals have been recorded living past 25 years, and one wild Japanese individual was confirmed alive 25 years and 10 months after being ringed. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?: Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org