Facts about Bewick's Swan

1. 07

   Cygnets of this species fledge at approximately 75 days old, allowing young Bewick's Swans to join their parents on the southbound migration to European wintering grounds by autumn.

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2. 06

   In 1960, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust established a long-term study of Bewick's Swans at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire, creating the world's longest continuous population monitoring of this species.

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3. 05

   Bewick's Swans produce distinctive nasal calls that carry over 1 kilometer across wetlands, enabling flocks to maintain contact during migration and in low-visibility conditions.

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4. 04

   Bewick's Swans weigh between 5.5 and 7.5 kilograms, making them substantially smaller than the closely related Whooper Swan which averages 9 to 10 kilograms.

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5. 03

   During winter months, Bewick's Swans consume up to 4 kilograms of aquatic vegetation daily to maintain their body weight in cold European wetlands.

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6. 02

   Approximately 25,000 Bewick's Swans migrate annually between their Arctic breeding grounds in Siberia and wintering sites across Western Europe and Asia.

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7. 01

   Each Bewick's Swan possesses a unique yellow and black pattern on its bill, allowing researchers to identify individual birds across their 20-year lifespan.

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