Bewick's Swan

Cygnus columbianus bewickii

Scarce & local Winter Visitors at a few traditional sites 7,000 from November-March.

Breeds in Siberia and winters & south to Central Europe.

In North America the race columbianus: The Tundra [Whistling Swan] replaces the Bewick's Swan.

Adults entirely white, with black feet, and a bill that is mostly black, with a thin salmon-pink streak running along the mouthline and – depending on the subspecies – more or less yellow in the proximal part. The iris is dark brown. 

Juveniles are  white mixed with some dull grey feathering, mainly on the head and upper neck, which are often entirely light grey.

In flight, they are slighty smaller than Mute Swans.

The call is high-pitched honking.