Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Bewick's Swan
Scientific Name:
Cygnus columbianus
Also Known As:
Tundra Swan
Length:
115-127cm
Wingspan (mm):
170-195cm
Weight:
M: 6.4 kg F: 5.3 kg
Lifespan:
9 yrs Description
Bewicks Sawn is the smallest and has shortest-neck of Europes swans, like the Whooper, Bewicks have an obvious yellow in the beak. Bewick's Swan has a short yellow blob at the base, as opposed to a longer yellow wedge. In juveniles the bill starts off moslty pink but there is still a paler blob of the same shape as adult birds.
Distribution
In the region of 7,200 birds over-winter in Britain, with a further 2,000 - 2,500 birds in Ireland.
Habitat
Over-winters on estuaries, lakes, marshes and flooded fields.
Population
The population in the British Isles has increased to over 10,000 by the 1980's. Due in part to increased protection and artificial feeding at reserves as well as the recent exploitation of farmland as feeding areas.