UK Wildlife

Whooper Swan Winter Migration

The whooper swan is a large migratory swan from Iceland that winters in the UK in internationally significant numbers, with haunting bugling calls and magnificent appearance.

Key Facts

Whooper swans migrate from Iceland to winter in Scotland, Ireland and northern England
UK wintering population around 20,000, representing about a third of the Iceland breeding population
Distinguished from mute swan by yellow and black bill and lack of knob
Family groups stay together through migration and on wintering grounds
Sometimes seen on farmland feeding on unharvested grain and potatoes

Welfare Considerations

Whooper swan welfare depends on undisturbed wintering sites with accessible food resources. Lead poisoning from fishing weights can still affect them. Agricultural change affecting root crop availability has displaced some birds.

What You Can Do

Visit WWT Caerlaverock and Martin Mere reserves to see wintering whooper swans
Support lead-free fishing initiatives to protect swans from poisoning
Record whooper swans through WeBS counts to contribute to international monitoring