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August 1
- September 6
Wonders of Wildlife
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September 1
- September 6
Wonders of Wildlife
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9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Directions and Info | |
| Contact Info:
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
1875 Noble Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06610
Main Number: (203) 394-6565 | |
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Whooper Swan
(Cygnus cygnus)
While spending time in our New England Farmyard, look for these impressive swans in the large pond exhibit. Whooper swans are the national bird of Finland.
Description:
Whooper swans are very large in size, between 55-70 inches tall, with up to an 8-foot wingspan. Sexes look similar, except that males are larger, weighing up to 24 pounds, while females weigh up to 18 pounds. Adults have white plumage and black legs and feet. The bill is unique, with a bright yellow patch covering at least half of the bill, from the base of the upper mandible extending to the nostril area. The rest of the bill is black. Eyes are typically dark brown, occasionally blue. Young swans are grayish-brown with pinkish legs, feet and a pinkish bill with a black tip. They become paler during the later part of their first summer, attaining full adult coloration before their second winter. Whooper swans usually hold their long necks erect. They are also well-equipped for land travel with their long legs. They are the noisiest of all swans, making a variety of deep honking and trumpeting calls. They are especially loud while flying.
Habitat:
In summer, they prefer to stay just south of the tundra in boggy areas with pools and upland lakes. During winter they inhabit lakes, shallow coastal bays, floodlands and farmlands.
Range:
These swans breed mainly across Northern Eurasia, including Iceland. In North America, they are seldom seen outside of the Aleutian Islands. Any occurring in other parts of North America are most likely escaped captives. Some wintering habitats of whooper swans are in need of protection. The species is on the Amber List of The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the United Kingdom.
Diet:
Mostly underwater vegetation, which they loosen with their feet by paddling. Occasionally they will eat snails and insects. Whoopers also graze on land for seeds, leaves, tubers and grasses. Throughout its life, a whooper swan feeds for more than 75% of its waking hours.
Family Life:
A male swan is called a cob, a female is a pen, and young are called cygnets. They are highly sociable birds except during breeding season, when they occupy well-defined territories. Swans do pair for life, but will find a new mate if one dies. Nests are made on elevations near water and may be re-used. In May or early June, 2-9 cream or yellowish-green tinged eggs are laid and incubated for about 35 days. Cygnets fledge at 70-90 days old. Both parents care for their young, which stay with them through the first winter. Whooper swans may not migrate as far north as some other species because of the long development period of their young. After breeding season ends, they are usually seen in large family groups, often including offspring from previous years.
Status:
Power cables, hunting, ingestion of lead, predation, poor weather on migration, and oil and gas exploration.
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