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Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
| 2008 | Least Concern |
| 2004 | Least Concern |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Does not normally occur in forest |
| Land mass type | Average mass | 9350 g |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 2,220,000 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 2,220,000 | medium |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Unknown | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 12.3 | - | - | - |
| Population justification: The global population is estimated to number > c.180,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2006), while the population in Russia has been estimated at c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and c.1,000-10,000 wintering individuals (Brazil 2009). | ||||
| Trend justification: The overall population trend is uncertain, as some populations are decreasing, while others are increasing, stable or have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006). | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Albania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Algeria | Vagrant | No | |||
| Armenia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Austria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Azerbaijan | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Belarus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Belgium | Native | No | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Native | No | |||
| Bulgaria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| China (mainland) | Native | No | |||
| Croatia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Cyprus | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Czech Republic | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Denmark | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Egypt | Vagrant | No | |||
| Estonia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Faroe Islands (to Denmark) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Finland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| France | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Germany | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Greece | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Greenland (to Denmark) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Hungary | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Iceland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| India | Native | No | |||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iraq | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ireland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Israel | Vagrant | No | |||
| Italy | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Japan | Native | No | |||
| Kazakhstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kyrgyzstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Latvia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Liechtenstein | Vagrant | No | |||
| Lithuania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Luxembourg | Vagrant | No | |||
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Mongolia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Montenegro | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Nepal | Native | No | |||
| Netherlands | Native | No | Yes | ||
| North Korea | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Norway | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Pakistan | Native | No | |||
| Poland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Portugal | Vagrant | No | |||
| Qatar | Vagrant | No | |||
| Romania | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Russia (Asian) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Central Asian) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Serbia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Slovakia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Slovenia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| South Korea | Native | No | |||
| Spain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) | Native | No | |||
| Sweden | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Switzerland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Syria | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Taiwan (China) | Native | No | |||
| Tajikistan | Native | No | |||
| Tunisia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Turkey | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Turkmenistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ukraine | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| United Arab Emirates | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom | Native | No | Yes | ||
| USA | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Uzbekistan | Native | No |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Azerbaijan | Absheron archipelago (north) and Pirallahi bay |  |
| Azerbaijan | Divichi liman (or Lake Akzibir) | |
| Azerbaijan | Glynanyi island | |
| Azerbaijan | Pirsagat Islands and Los Island | |
| Azerbaijan | Sangachal Bay | |
| Azerbaijan | Shahdidi spit | |
| Bulgaria | Burgasko Lake | |
| Bulgaria | Kamchia Complex | |
| Bulgaria | Mandra-Poda complex | |
| Bulgaria | Shabla Lake Complex | |
| China (mainland) | Bayanbulak and Kaidu River Valley | |
| China (mainland) | Bosten Lake | |
| China (mainland) | Dali Nur Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Desert and wetland from Northern Urumqi to Dabancheng | |
| China (mainland) | Heyang Huang He Wetlands Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Honghe Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Hongjian Nur | |
| China (mainland) | Oasis, Desert and Wetland at Mosuowan | |
| China (mainland) | Rongcheng Swan Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Sanjiang Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Sanmenxia Dam Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Xilin Gol Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Xingkai Hu Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Yuncheng Wetland Nature Reserve | |
| Denmark | Bolle and Try meadows | |
| Denmark | Eastern part of Vejlerne | |
| Denmark | Fiilsø | |
| Denmark | Flyndersø and Stubbergård Lake | |
| Denmark | Hanstholm Reservation | |
| Denmark | Hjarbæk Fjord | |
| Denmark | Holmegård Mose & Porsmose | |
| Denmark | Lønnerup Fjord | |
| Denmark | Lille Vildmose | |
| Denmark | Nakskov Fjord and Indrefjord | |
| Denmark | Nissum Fjord | |
| Denmark | Northwestern Kattegat | |
| Denmark | Odense Fjord | |
| Denmark | Roskilde Fjord, Selsø and Kattinge Søerne | |
| Denmark | Smålandsfarvandet | |
| Denmark | Store Vildmose, Ryå and Stavad Enge | |
| Denmark | Sydfynske Ø-hav | |
| Denmark | Tøndermarsken, Magisterkog and Rudbøl Sø | |
| Denmark | Tissø, Lille Åmose and Hallenslev Mose | |
| Denmark | Tystrup-Bavelse Søerne | |
| Denmark | Ulvedybet and Nibe Bredning | |
| Denmark | Ulvsund, Grønsund, Farø Fjord and Fanefjord | |
| Denmark | Western part of Vejlerne, Arup Holm and Hovsør Røn | |
| Estonia | Kõnnumaa-Väätsa | |
| Estonia | Koigi | |
| Estonia | Lahemaa | |
| Estonia | Lavassaare | |
| Estonia | Luitemaa | |
| Estonia | Nätsi-Võlla | |
| Estonia | Pakri | |
| Estonia | Pärnu bay (NEW) | |
| Estonia | Põhja-Liivimaa | |
| Estonia | Peipsi | |
| Estonia | Soomaa | |
| Estonia | Väinameri | |
| Finland | Artjärvi wetlands | |
| Finland | Haapavesi wetlands | |
| Finland | Karunginjärvi lake | |
| Finland | Köyliönjärvi and Pyhäjärvi lakes | |
| Finland | Kemihaara (Vuotos) mires and forests | |
| Finland | Kirkkojärvi lake and Lupinlahti bay | |
| Finland | Kirkon-Vilkkiläntura Bay | |
| Finland | Lemmenjoki-Hammastunturi-Pulju | |
| Finland | Merenkurkku archipelago | |
| Finland | Outokumpu wetlands | |
| Finland | Pomokaira-Koitelaiskaira | |
| Finland | Pori archipelago and wetlands | |
| Finland | Porvoonjoki Delta | |
| Finland | Puurijärvi-Isosuo wetlands | |
| Finland | Rummelö-Harrbodan | |
| Finland | Saariselkä and Koilliskaira | |
| Finland | Siikalahti bay and Sammallampi lake | |
| Finland | Sundominlahti Bay and Söderfjärden | |
| Finland | Torronsuo and Lake Talpianjärvi | |
| Finland | Värriö-Tuntsa | |
| Germany | Luchgebiet Spaatz-Hohennauen-Witzke | |
| Iceland | Arnarvatnsheidi-Tvídægra | |
| Iceland | Álftafjördur-Hamarsfjördur | |
| Iceland | Álftafjördur-Hofsstadavogur | |
| Iceland | Álftanes-Akrar | |
| Iceland | Öxarfjördur | |
| Iceland | Eyjavatn-Fridmundarvötn | |
| Iceland | Ferjubakkaflói-Nordurá | |
| Iceland | Hóp-Vatnsdalur | |
| Iceland | Hestgerdislón-Hornafjardarfljót | |
| Iceland | Lónsfjördur | |
| Iceland | Mývatn-Laxá | |
| Iceland | Miklavatn-Skógar | |
| Iceland | Pollengi-Hrosshagavík | |
| Iceland | Skúmsstadavatn | |
| Iceland | Sog | |
| Iceland | Stafnes-Gardur | |
| Iceland | Stokkseyri-Eyrarbakki | |
| Iceland | Vetleifsholtsbugar-Thykkvabæjarvatn | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Anzali Mordab complex | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Gomishan marshes and Turkoman steppes | |
| Japan | Izunuma and nearby lakes | |
| Japan | Lake Akkeshiko, Bekanbeushi marsh | |
| Japan | Lake Furenko and nearby wetlands | |
| Japan | Middle Ishikarigawa basin | |
| Japan | Mogamigawa estuary | |
| Japan | Mutsu bay | |
| Japan | Notsuke bay, Odaito | |
| Japan | Shintsutsumi reservoir | |
| Japan | Tamagawa river | |
| Kazakhstan | Isei Lake | |
| Kazakhstan | Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve | |
| Kazakhstan | Kumdykol-Zharlykol Lake System | |
| Kazakhstan | Kushum Lakes | |
| Kazakhstan | Shalkar Lake | |
| Kazakhstan | Uyalyshalkar Lake System | |
| Kazakhstan | Zhumay-Mayshukyr Lake System | |
| Kazakhstan | Zhylandy Lake | |
| Kazakhstan | Zhylandy Lake | |
| Kyrgyzstan | Western Issyk Kul Lake | |
| Lithuania | Birveta Fish-farm including segments of Dysna River and Birveta River valleys | |
| Lithuania | The northern part of the Curonian Lagoon | |
| Lithuania | Visbarai fish-farm | |
| Lithuania | Wetland complex of the Baltoji Voke fish-farm with neighbouring turbary and lake Papis | |
| Mongolia | Khar Us Lake | |
| Mongolia | Khovsgoliin Sangiin Dalai Lake | |
| Mongolia | Khukh Lake | |
| Mongolia | Mongol Daguur | |
| Mongolia | Ogii Lake | |
| Mongolia | Tashgain Tavan Lakes | |
| Mongolia | Tolbo Lake | |
| Mongolia | Valleys of Khurkh-Khuiten Rivers | |
| Netherlands | Gelderse Poort | |
| Netherlands | IJssel: IJsselkop-Ketelmeer | |
| Netherlands | Lauwersmeer | |
| Netherlands | Oostvaardersplassen | |
| North Korea | Chongchon River estuary (including Mundok Nature Reserve) | |
| North Korea | Chongdan field | |
| North Korea | Kumya Bay | |
| North Korea | Lake Kwangpo | |
| North Korea | Lake Manpo and Lake Bonpo | |
| North Korea | Lake Samilpo | |
| North Korea | Lake Tungjong and Lake Chonapo | |
| North Korea | Onchon field | |
| North Korea | Taedong River estuary | |
| North Korea | Unryul Kumsanpo | |
| Norway | Lake Leksdalsvatn | |
| Norway | Lake Storsjøen | |
| Norway | Nordre Øyeren and Sørumsneset | |
| Norway | Vorma-Andelva | |
| Poland | Barycz river valley | |
| Poland | Drawa River Site | |
| Poland | Insko Site | |
| Poland | Knyszyn Forest | |
| Poland | Lower Odra river valley | |
| Poland | Lower Silesia Forests | |
| Poland | Middle Notec River Valley | |
| Poland | Middle Odra River Valley | |
| Poland | Middle part of Tuchola forest | |
| Poland | Napiwodzko-Ramucka forest | |
| Poland | Odra riverine forests | |
| Poland | Przemków ponds | |
| Poland | Puck Bay | |
| Poland | Siemianowka Reseirvoir | |
| Poland | Slowinski National Park | |
| Poland | Szczecin lagoon | |
| Poland | Tuchola Forest | |
| Poland | Upper Narew River Valley | |
| Poland | Warmia Site | |
| Poland | Warta River Mouth | |
| Poland | Wloszczowa Basin | |
| Romania | Black Sea | |
| Romania | Buhuşu reservoir - Bacău - Tătărăşti | |
| Romania | Cursul Dunării - Baziaş - Porţile de Fier | |
| Romania | Danube Delta | |
| Romania | Iezerul Călăraşi | |
| Romania | Ilfov reservoir | |
| Romania | Lake Beibugeac (Plopu) | |
| Romania | Lake Bugeac | |
| Romania | Lake Fundata | |
| Romania | Lake Oltina | |
| Romania | Lake Strachina | |
| Romania | Lake Taşaul | |
| Romania | Lake Techirghiol | |
| Romania | Limanu - Herghelia | |
| Romania | Măxineni | |
| Romania | Olt valley | |
| Romania | Ostrovu Lung - Gostinu | |
| Romania | Stânca lake - Costeşti | |
| Russia (Asian) | Amur river mouth | |
| Russia (Asian) | Azhabach'ye lake | |
| Russia (Asian) | Bolon' lake | |
| Russia (Asian) | Evoron-Chukchagirskoye depression | |
| Russia (Asian) | Kava valley | |
| Russia (Asian) | Khadyn lake | |
| Russia (Asian) | Kharchinskoye lake | |
| Russia (Asian) | Lebediny refuge (Markovo depression) | |
| Russia (Asian) | Moroshechnaya river | |
| Russia (Asian) | Mukhtel' lake | |
| Russia (Asian) | Nerpich'ye lake | |
| Russia (Asian) | Nevskoye lake | |
| Russia (Asian) | North-east Sakhalin lagoons | |
| Russia (Asian) | Tyk and Viakhtu bays | |
| Russia (Asian) | Ulukhkol' lake | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Basins of the Schuchya and Khadytayakha rivers | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Big and Small Akh lakes | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Big Indra lake | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Bystroistokskaya | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Chernoye Lake | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Dikoye and Epanchino lakes | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Dvuob'ye | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Istochnoye, Sredneye and Schuchiye lakes | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Kataiginskiye bogs | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Kondinskiye lakes | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Kurtaily lake | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Kuznetski Alatau | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Lower Ob' | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Pershinsko-Manatkinsky area | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Russkoye lake | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Seketovo, Rakhtovo and Artevo lakes | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Taezhno-Mikhaylovsky | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Upper streams of Ob' river | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Ust'-Ozerninskiye bogs | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Verkhne-Kondinsky zakaznik | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Vodorazdel'naya | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Watershed of the Mulym'ya and Bolshoy Tap rivers | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Zdvinsky zakaznik | |
| Russia (European) | Berezovye islands of Vyborg Bay | |
| Russia (European) | Delta of the River Don | |
| Russia (European) | Floodplain of the Terek river near Staroshchedrinskaya | |
| Russia (European) | Kenozer'ye | |
| Russia (European) | Khaypudyrskaya Bay (islands of B. Zelenets, Dolgi, Matveyev) | |
| Russia (European) | Kizlyar Bay | |
| Russia (European) | Kuloy river | |
| Russia (European) | Lake Lacha | |
| Russia (European) | Lake Vyal'ye and adjoining marshes | |
| Russia (European) | Lakes of northern Karelia | |
| Russia (European) | Mouth of Svir river | |
| Russia (European) | North-western subburbs of St.-Petersburg | |
| Russia (European) | Petrocrepost' Bay | |
| Russia (European) | Ponoiskaya depression | |
| Russia (European) | Southern coast of Ladoga Lake | |
| Russia (European) | Southern coast of the Neva bay | |
| Russia (European) | Swans area (southern shore of Finski Bay) | |
| Russia (European) | Taman' | |
| Russia (European) | Varnavinsko-Kryukovskaya irrigation system | |
| Russia (European) | Veselovskoye reservoir | |
| Russia (European) | Vyborgski Bay | |
| Russia (European) | Watershed of the Rivers Strelna and Varzuga | |
| South Korea | Gangjin Bay | |
| South Korea | Geum-gang river and estuary | |
| South Korea | Gocheonam-ho lake | |
| South Korea | Gumi Haepyeong | |
| South Korea | Gyeongpo-ho lake | |
| South Korea | Hwajinpo-ho lake | |
| South Korea | Junam reservoir | |
| South Korea | Nakdong-gang estuary | |
| South Korea | Songji-ho lake | |
| South Korea | Upo swamp | |
| Sweden | Bay of Kilsviken | |
| Sweden | Dumme mosse | |
| Sweden | Färnebofjärden | |
| Sweden | Getterön | |
| Sweden | Lake Östen | |
| Sweden | Lake Östra Styran | |
| Sweden | Lake Hornborgasjön | |
| Sweden | Lake Laidaure | |
| Sweden | Lake Limsjön | |
| Sweden | Lake Persöfjärden | |
| Sweden | Lake Ralången - Hyllingen | |
| Sweden | Lake Tysslingen | |
| Sweden | Lake Vendelsjön | |
| Sweden | Muddus | |
| Sweden | River Dalälven-Håvran | |
| Sweden | River Klingavälsån-Lake Krankesjön | |
| Sweden | River Svartån | |
| Sweden | River Umeälven delta | |
| Sweden | Sandemar | |
| Sweden | Stigfjorden fjord | |
| Turkey | Meriç Delta | |
| Ukraine | Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays | |
| United Kingdom | Annaghroe, River Blackwater | |
| United Kingdom | Black Cart | |
| United Kingdom | Caithness Lochs | |
| United Kingdom | Lindisfarne | |
| United Kingdom | Loch of Strathbeg | |
| United Kingdom | Lochs of Spiggie and Brow | |
| United Kingdom | Lough Foyle and River Foyle | |
| United Kingdom | Lough Neagh and Lough Beg | |
| United Kingdom | Lower Derwent Valley | |
| United Kingdom | Martin Mere | |
| United Kingdom | Mill Dam, Shapinsay | |
| United Kingdom | Moray Basin, Firths and Bays | |
| United Kingdom | Moray Basin, Firths and Bays | |
| United Kingdom | Ouse Washes | |
| United Kingdom | Ribble and Alt Estuaries | |
| United Kingdom | River Spey - Insh Marshes | |
| United Kingdom | Sleibhtean Agus Chladach Thiriodh | |
| United Kingdom | South Uist Machair and Lochs | |
| United Kingdom | Strangford Lough and islands | |
| United Kingdom | The Wash | |
| United Kingdom | Tiree and Coll | |
| United Kingdom | Upper Lough Erne | |
| United Kingdom | Upper Solway Flats and Marshes | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | Arable Land | major | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | major | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | major | non-breeding |
| Altitude | 0 - 0 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Threats & impact
| Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Future | Whole (>90%) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| |||||||||
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food (human) | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | International | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Sport | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Cygnus cygnus. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Anatidae (Ducks, geese and swans) |
| Species name author | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Unknown |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 2,220,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
| - Summary information on this species | |
|
|