Cygnus cygnus

Whooper swans are migrating to the north, on the way they stay weeks on farmland eating grains. Whooper swans may live 20-30 years, and they are used to eat on the same areas every year on their migration. Saw these noisy swans near the Lastenojavuori hill.

Whooper swans are one of the heavyweights of the bird world; with a wingspan of nearly 2.5m and weighing up to 11kg, they are one of the largest flying birds in the world. They can make their migration of 1,000 km in 12 hours, flying at an altitude of 8,000m and speeds of 55mph. And their ‘whooping’ call is one of the loudest of any bird.

Whooper swans pair for life, and their cygnets stay with them all winter; they are sometimes joined by offspring from previous years. The yellow markings on the bill of the Whooper Swan are like human fingerprints; they are all different. Each individual bird can be recognised by their bill pattern. 

The whooper swan is the national bird of Finland and is featured on the Finnish 1 euro coin.


+7°C, cloudy, rainy in evening