Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus (Linnaeus, 1758)

		adult in flight 1-st years
2022-05-25 Republic of Altai, Chuisky Trakt 2022-05-04 Republic of Buryatia, Ivolginsky district, lake Beloye2019-01-05 Altai Territory, Urozhaynoye, Semiletka	© Nataliya Pokhodzey © Valerii Bogdanovich© Ilya Sukhov

Distribution

Breeding distribution in Siberia is very wide, from southern tundras to steppes. A common breeder in some areas of taiga and forest-tundra, but rare in the major territory, nests in areas heavily accessible for humans.

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits large fresh and slightly salty lakes with vast reed beds. Appears very early, when lakes not yet free from ice, mid – end February or early March in southern areas, and in early – end April in central and northern ones. Migrates in small flocks, rarely more than 50 birds. At breeding sites they arrive in pairs and don’t nest close to one another. A large nest is built among reed and mace beds and constructed from dry stems of reed and other vegetation. Inner cup lined with dry stems of reed, mace and sedge. Clutches of 3-7, more often of 4-6 eggs in early April – end May. Only female incubates 35-40 days. Juveniles hatch mid-May – June. Both parents rear juveniles. Autumn migration from end August to end October – early December.

References

В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014.