The whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) are huge swan they average 137cm - 173cm (4.5ft - 5.6ft) in length. The male tends to be larger than the female weighing around 11kg (24lbs) while the female typically weighs 8kg (17.6lbs). On average their wingspan is 200cm - 300cm (6.5ft - 9.8ft).

 Territorial Whooper Swan’s, image taken while on a Photography Tour Hokkaido, Japan 

The Whopper Swan can easily be identified from other white swans by the color of their bill. The Whopper Swan appears similar to the Bewick's Swan. The easiest way to tell the swans apart is the orangey yellow markings of the Whooper Swans bill, which is more pronounced, than the Bewick's bill and the Bewick's bill has more black marking. The Whooper Swan is also larger and has a longer neck than the Bewick's Swan.

 Whooper Swans in flight Akita, Japan

The Whooper Swans that winter over in Japan spend most of the year in the Russian Arctic and migrate to Japan to escape the freezing Arctic winter temperatures. They arrive in Japan in late autumn just before the 1st snow has hit the ground, and they depart in late winter just before the snow leaves the ground. During the winter months in Japan, these birds linger through the coldest, bone-chilling weather. Birds are warm-blooded animals that have a much higher metabolism giving them a higher body temperature than humans. Their feathers provide incredible insulation against the cold and the oil that coats their feathers also provides insulation and are waterproof.

 Whooper Swans territorial moment Hokkaido, Japan

Annually I lead photographers on a Japan Photo Tour to photograph these beautiful and sometimes dramatically territorial swans. If you would like to photograph the Whooper Swans and other wildlife in Japan, please browse our Japan Photography Workshop itineraries, or feel free to contact me for any further information!