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Bewick's Swan
The smallest swan seen
in the UK, they arrive in Britain in mid-October after spending the breeding
season in Siberia. It has more black on its bill than mute and whooper swans and
is considerably smaller and more like a goose in shape.
They breed in the
Arctic and cygnets stay with their parents all winter and the family group can
be joined by offspring from previous years. Family groups of up to 15 have been
recorded. They normally breed for life and some are consistently successful at
breeding.
The Ouse Washes in
Cambridgeshire has a winter population of some 9000 birds, with over 3600 at WWT
Welney.
In summer their diet
consists mainly of aquatic vegetation and eaten while swimming, at other times
of year they also eat grains from open fields. When migrating they can fly at
altitudes of nearly 27,000ft.
The Wildfowl and
Wetlands Trust (WWT) at Slimbridge have been studying this breed over nearly 40
years.
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As they can be identified by their unique bill pattern, each individual is given
a unique name by researchers and their bill pattern drawn and added to their
database. This research allows them to identify patterns, movements and
behaviour to be monitored. Each Bewick at Slimbridge is ringed and allows them
to be identified when abroad and allows each birds global movements and
relationships to be studied. Numbers at Slimbridge are declining from a peak in
1979 of around 610 visitors, now to only around 300 each winter.
Identification
They are the smallest
swan species to visit the UK, not very much bigger than a Canada goose. They are
around 115-146cm in length and have a wing span of 170-195cm weighing around
4-9.5kg. They are similar in appearance to Whooper Swans, but are smaller and
have a shorter neck and more rounded head shape. Their bill has more black than
yellow on it and has a more blunt front edge. They have more oval, rounded
yellow patches on either side of their bill. Their calls are more reminiscent of
an excited dog.
Bewick
Swan Facts
In Britain: October-March
Habitat: Mainly in Eastern England, around
Severn estuary and in Lancashire such as
Martin Mere WWT,
with most found at the Ouse and Nene Washes
(Cambridgeshire), and
Slimbridge WWT
(Glous).
Food: leaves, shoots and roots
Breeding: not in UK
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Conservation
Status

Least Concern |
For a list of most recent UK sightings see
the
Birdguides
website.
Also See:
Swans
Where to Photograph Swans (Location List)

Mute Swan
Whooper Swan

Swan Upping
- the ancient annual census of Mute Swans on the River Thames
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