Scaup

The Scaup, Aythya marila, is a diving duck that is to be found in the colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It will be most commonly observed after the breeding season when the ducks migrate southwards; breeding occurring in the Arctic north.

In the Americas there are two different Scaup, the European Scaup, Aythya marila, is known as the Greater Scaup, and the Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis, which is found almost exclusively in North and Central America. The two ducks are very similar, with matching characteristics, although the Lesser Scaup is smaller than the Greater Scaup.

Greater Scaup - Calibas - Released into PD

The Greater Scaup is a relatively large diving duck, and on average has a body length of 45cm, with a wingspan of 75cm. The Scaup is sometimes confused with other ducks, including the Tufted Duck but does have some distinctive characteristics.

The male Scaup has a black head, with black shoulders, breasts and tail, with a light grey back. It additionally also has a white bottom and white flanks. In contrast the female Scaup is predominantly brown, with a few grey speckles on the flanks, there is also some white located at the base of the duck’s bill.

Occasionally referred to as Bluebill, the bill of the Scaup is sometimes blue although in most lights, it appears greyer in colour.

The Scaup is generally a cold weather bird and breeds over the warmer months in the Arctic regions; in the United Kingdom less than five mating pairs breed every year.

During the breeding season though the female Scaup will lay up to ten eggs, and will incubate them for between three and four weeks. Young Scaups are very self-sufficient and within a matter of weeks will be able to swim and fly as good as their parents.

Scaups are migratory and will travel south as the harshness of the Arctic winter sets in; this means that Scaups can be found in North America, Europe and Asia. There are no exact figures for the number of Scaups that migrate, although it is believed that there has been a steady decrease in numbers due to hunting and disease.

In both the migratory and breeding grounds, Scaups have a preference for saltwater, and will often be found around various coastlines, although some do go further inland to settle on and around lakes and marshes.

The habitats chosen by the Scaups are based to a great deal on their diet, with favoured food being shellfish and insects, although aquatic plant life is also eaten.

Scaup Flapping - Duncan - CC-BY-SA-2.0

Many birds are given names in honour of individuals or from characteristics, there is though some debate about why the Scaup is actually named as it is. The most popular reason put forward is that it is named after the noise it makes, scaup scaup; in much the same way that the Whooper Swan is named as it is.

There is though a counter claim for its naming, where it may have been named after the scalp, the bed of shellfish from which the bird feeds.

The Scaup is a bird that is a welcome visitor to many countries, and adds to the variety of birds that can be observed for much of the year. To survive though, it may well need some protection in future, especially if numbers decline at their current rate.

Copyright - First Published 3rd March 2010

The Brent Goose

The Brent Goose, Branta bernicia, is one of the smaller members of the goose family, and is often mistaken for a duck. In most cases an adult Brent Goose will only be 60cm in length. Despite now being commonly referred to as the Brent Goose, it should in reality be referred to as the Brant Goose, as the Latin names suggests.

There are normally said to be three different subspecies of the Brent or Brant Goose; the Dark-bellied Brant Goose, Pale-bellied Brant Goose, and Black Brant.

Brent Goose - Andreas Trepte - CC-BY-SA-2.5

The Dark-bellied variety is predominantly grey-brown in colour, with black head, and white patches on its neck. The Pale-bellied bird though has a light greyness to it, with a definite lightning of the goose’s flanks. As the name might suggest, the Black Brant is black, or at least blackish-brown although there is a striking contrast with the white flanks and neck.

The Brent Goose, including all three subspecies, though is renowned for having the shortest tail of any goose. All of the geese also have short, stubby bills as well.

There is some debate the origin of Branta as a name, although it is commonly thought to have come from the old Norse word, brandt, which relates to burnt, and the blackness of the Brent Goose.
The Brent Goose is a bird that breeds in the far north, around the various Arctic coastlines. The Dark-bellied Brant goose breeds around the Siberian coastline, the Pale-bellied Brant goose around Greenland and Canada, with the Black Brant found all around the Arctic. Each though has a favoured wintering area, the Dark-bellied goose flies south to Europe, the Black Brant prefers North America and the Pale-bellied flies to both Europe and America.

As the Brent Goose flies south, it is notable that it doesn’t fly in close knit formations like other geese but is flies as a loose flock. The flight south leaves behind the shallow pools of the tundra, and is replaced with coastline and estuaries for the winter. In the United Kingdom much of the east coast sees the presence of the Brent Goose from October to March, with concentrations at places like Lindisfarne and the Wash.

Brent Goose - Tim Bowman - USFWS

The wintering areas have been traditionally areas with a large amount of eelgrass, the Brent geese’s preferred food. It does though also appear that the birds have adapted to the decline amounts of eelgrass and have started to feed on residual crops in farmer’s fields.

Amongst the world’s geese population, the Brent Goose is comparatively rare, at an estimated 215000 birds. This is a huge recovered from the estimated 16500 of the late 1950s, but with continuing threats to estuaries and their favoured food of eelgrass, a future threat remains.

A regular visitor to many northern coastlines during the winter months, the Brent Goose adds a variety to many populations of bird life, and will often be seen mixing with other geese and birds. It is though a bird that is often overlooked when near to bigger forms of geese, but should be treasured just the same.

Copyright - First Published 3rd March 2010

The Trumpeter Swan

Generally thought of as the largest of all of the swans, the Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator, is also the largest of North American native birds.

The Trumpeter Swan is named for its loud and resonating honk, although it is also identifiable due to its size. Male Trumpeter Swans normally grow to 160cm in length, although a size of 180cm are not unknown. Adult males can also weigh over 12kg. It is though their extremely large wingspan that is most apparent, with 2m being normal, and 3m not unknown.

Trumpeter Swan - Dick Daniels - CC-BY-SA-3.0

In terms of size, the Trumpeter Swan is mostly closely associated with the Mute Swan, although in terms of actual appearance it is more closely related to the Whooper Swan or Tundra Swan. The long neck is unlike the curve of the Mute Swan, but as with many swans it is the beak that has the most distinguishing features. The black bill of the Trumpeter Swan has salmon pink markings rather than the yellow of the Whooper Swan or the reddish orange of the Mute.

Breeding pairs of Trumpeter Swans will often return to the same breeding ground, and the same specific area year on year. As with most swans, pairs often mate for life. Each breeding season, the female Trumpeter Swan will lay 7 eggs, and will incubate them for five weeks.

Today there is an estimated 34000 Trumpeter Swans living in the wild, and although they are still on the endangered list in some regions, they have seen a resurgence in numbers in others. Today the Trumpeter Swan is more at risk from competition from the Mute Swan, rather than hunters or pollution.

Trumpeter Swans in Grand Teton - PD-US-NPS

Trumpeter Swans and Mute Swans are both to be found in similar environments, particularly around shallow lakes and large rivers. The abundance of vegetation and the ease of foraging for food in and on the edges of such water supplies provides the swans with sufficient food to thrive, although Trumpeter Swans may also feed of crops. In most areas of North America there are constant populations of Trumpeter Swans, and it is only on the northernmost regions that sees a migration south as the weather cools.

The Trumpeter Swan is one of the most recognisable of all North American birds and has thrived in recent years. Hopefully it will be around for many years to come, so that future generations can enjoy the beauty and the grace of a majestic bird.

Copyright - First Published 2nd March 2010

The Mute Swan

The swan is considered one of the most beautiful of all birds, and most people when they imagine the swan think of a pristine white bird with a large wingspan, this is in essence just what the Mute Swan is, the archetypal swan. Around the world there are thought to be over five hundred thousand Mute Swans, with the Mute Swan being one of three breeds of swans that are commonly found in the United Kingdom, the others being the Bewick’s Swan and Whooper Swan. The Mute Swan though is a full time resident unlike the other two breeds.

Mute Swan - Fi15 - CC-BY-2.0

The large white swan is one of the largest in its species, and is also one of the heaviest birds that can still fly. Male mute swans can weigh up to 22 kilograms, although 12kg is a more normal weight. Male mute swans can grow up to 170cm in length, 120cm high; with an impressive wingspan of up to 240cm. Female mute swans are noticeably smaller than their male counterparts.

When in the air, the Mute Swan is identifiably by the flying action, which makes use of long, slow wing beats to propel itself.

Mute Swan in Flight - Lasse Olsson - CC-BY-SA-3.0

The story of the Ugly Duckling is based upon the early years of a Mute Swan, and although the Mute Swan cygnets may be dull to look at, they soon develop into the impressive and graceful Mute Swan of maturity. The Mute Swan is of course white, but has distinctive difference to other swans found in the United Kingdom. The Mute Swan has a curved neck rather than an angular one. The bill of the Mute Swan though is the main distinguishing feature. The Mute Swan has a reddish-orange colouring, rather than the normal yellow; additionally it also has a knob above the bill.

The other main characteristic of the Mute Swan is the noise that it makes, and rather than the loud honking associated with the majority of its brethren, a snort is normally made, hence the Mute.
The Mute Swan is also considered to be more aggressive than other swans, although this image is of course helped by its size. Male Mute Swans also often fight, which provides the display of two swans neck grappling.

In its natural environment the Mute Swan prefers a wetland environment, and is often found around marshes, estuaries and rivers. These areas provide the plants, snails and insects that make up the majority of their diet. In the United Kingdom this means that there is a suitable feeding area for the swans close by, and as such Mute Swans can be found pretty much anywhere. After the breeding season is over, Mute Swans often congregate together in large numbers, with places like Abbotsbury Swannery being popular with swans and tourists alike.

Two Mute Swans - Sangfroid - Released into PD

Abbotsbury Swannery has a good breeding record for the Mute Swan, and unlike the Whooper Swan and Bewick’s Swan, the Mute Swan breeds in large numbers in the country, and as such can be seen all year round. Every year fifteen thousand pairs of swans breed in the United Kingdom, and this number is further boosted by migrating birds arriving from colder regions of Europe. Like other swans, the Mute Swan is incredibly loyal to its partner, although as a general rule each swan will have four partners in its lifetime.

The Mute Swan is one of the staple parts of British birdlife, and folklore, although it is wrong to think of all unmarked swans being the property of the crown, as this only applies to sections of the River Thames.

Copyright - First Published 2nd March 2010

The Coscorba Swan

The Coscoroba Swan, Coscoroba coscoroba, is one of the species of swans native to South America, alongside the Black-necked Swan. Known as the smallest of the swans, there is some debate about whether the Coscoroba Swan should be classed alongside other swans, or as a separate species.

The Coscoroba Swan is primarily known for its diminutive size, especially compared to other swans. A male Coscoroba on average measures 1m long, with a wingspan of just over 1.5m, in terms of waterfowl this still makes it a large bird, but could be the half the size of a large Trumpeter Swan.

Coscoroba Swan - Dick Daniels - CC-BY-SA-3.0

Weight wise as well the Coscoroba Swan is small in comparison, and an average male will weigh only a little bit over 4kg. As a general rule, female Coscoroba measure in at about 80% of their male counterparts.

It is often argued that the Coscoroba Swan looks more like a goose than it does a swan, although of course like other swans it is predominantly white. The white plumage though is contrasted by black flight feathers on the tips of the wings, although these black tips are only visible when the bird is in flight or putting on a show.

There is also a splattering of red on the swan, with the beak, legs and feet coloured. It is though the face of the Coscoroba Swan that sets it apart from other swans. The other species of swans have a face that is bereft of feathers, whilst the region between bill and eye on the Coscoroba is covered in white feathers,

In the wild there is thought to be an estimated 25000 Coscoroba Swans, although as with other swans estimates do go to the high and low of extremes. Traditionally found in its breeding grounds across Patagonia, the southern extremes of Chile and Argentina, and the Falkland Islands, the Coscoroba Swans shares many of the same habitats as the Black-necked Swan. The Coscoroba Swan will migrate further north during the winter, making a home in Paraguay and the southern states of Brazil.
Coscoroba Swans were named by the indigenous population of the southern reaches of South America after the sound of their call, cos-co-ro-oa.

In both the breeding and wintering grounds the Coscoroba Swan looks for similar habitat, and is especially partial to wetland areas. In particular the swans can normally be found near to fresh water in the form of lakes, marshes and slow moving rivers. The swans also like a well vegetated area for both food and protection.

Coscoroba Coscoroba - Patche99z - CC-BY-SA-3.0

The diet of the Coscoroba Swan is primarily based upon the plant life to be found near or in the water, but will often supplement this source of food with fish and any shellfish found in its locality.
Breeding for the Coscoroba starts with a brief courtship and a short dance, before a pair generally mates for life. In most cases a female swan will lay one clutch of eggs, with normally 6 eggs in the clutch. The incubation of the eggs is solely down to the female swan for the incubation period of between four and five weeks, although the male will act as protector for that period of time. The role of protector continues after hatching as well, and in the early days the father will never be far away from his offspring.

The locality of the nest is important in the early days after hatching, and long vegetation will offer some degree of protection for the cygnets. New born Coscoroba Swans will quickly be able to feed themselves and swim, but will take about four months before they are able to fly and flee from ay predators.

After the breeding season has come to a close it is not unusual to see large numbers of the Coscoroba Swan congregate together. Family groups, like other swans, often stay close to each other, but additionally the Coscoroba will happily share its surroundings with other birds.

The Coscoroba may not be the biggest of swans but in its surroundings and amongst other waterfowl still makes an impression, and although not endangered, care of its habitat will be the only way that this beautiful bird will survive for future generations to admire.

Copyright - First Published 2nd March 2010

The Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus, the Whooper Swan, is one of the most recognisable of all of the swans. Primarily to be found in Northern Europe and Scandinavia, the Whooper Swan is the very image of how most people think a swan should look.

To many people all swans look alike, and yet there are some very distinctive characteristics of the Whooper Swan. The Whooper Swan is one of the largest of the swans, although smaller than the Trumpeter Swan. A male cob Whooper Swan can measure up to 160cm in length, with a wing span of up to 275cm, although female pen Whooper Swans are noticeably smaller than their male counterparts. The size of the swan of course has a direct impact upon the weight of the bird, with the largest swans weighing up to 20kg.

Male and Female Whooper Swans - Andreas Trepte - CC-BY-SA-2.5

The Whooper Swan is predominantly white, although they do have black legs, with black beaks. The black beaks can have a substantial amount of yellow on them, normally in a triangular shape. The Whooper Swan is also noted for its long thin neck and angular head.

Arguably the most distinctive of the Whooper Swan characteristics is not physical but is rather the call that they make, identified with the trumpet, the sound made is reminiscent of “whoop”, hence their name.

Another characteristic of the Whooper Swan is their courtship ritual. The pair of Whooper Swans will face each other, with their wings lifted and half open. The wings will then start to quiver as the necks of the cob and pen are bent and extended several times. Whilst the display is being put on, the birds will also make their distinctive trumpeting noise.

A successful courtship will see a pair of Whooper Swans mate for life, and also hopefully a successfully breeding period. Both the cob and the pen will help to build a nest, with the pen laying up to 12 eggs, although half that figure is more normal. As the female Whooper Swan then incubates the eggs, the male will become ultra protective over the nest and his mate, although the incubation period lasts for about five weeks.

Whooper Swans at Big Waters - Sciadopitys - CC-BY-SA-2.0

Visiting Whooper Swans to the United Kingdom are normally those that have bred in Iceland, and only a handful of Whooper Swans (three to seven pairs) actually breed in Scotland and northern England.

In the United Kingdom there are an estimated 7000 Whooper Swans to be found from October to March, although this is only a small percentage of the 180000 global population. The majority of Whooper Swans prefer other sites in Northern Europe and Asia. Whooper swans though do seek out particular types of environments. In particular they like wetland habitats, and spend the majority of their lives in water, primarily because their legs have trouble supporting their body weight. They also like farmland areas, as grain stubble and potatoes helps provide them with additional food on top of their normal aquatic plant diet.

The size and sound of the Whooper Swan makes it one of the more recognisable types of swans in the Northern Hemisphere.

Copyright - First Published 1st March 2010

Bewick's Swan

The Bewick’s Swan, Cygnus Bewickii, is one of the more established winter visitors to the United Kingdom, with up to 9000 of the bird migrating there each year. Indeed the Bewick’s Swan is one of only three swans to be commonly found in the United Kingdom, the others being the Mute Swan and the Whooper Swan.

Cygnus Bewickiiis a subspecies Cygnus columbianus, the Tundra Swan, but has a number of features that distinguishes it from other swans. Notably smaller than both the Whooper Swan and Mute Swan, the average size of a male is 135cm in length, with a wingspan of 180cm. This normally means that the swans peak at a weight of 10kg, although female Bewick’s Swans are smaller.

Bewick's Swan - Dick Daniels - CC-BY-SA-3.0

In appearance the Bewick’s Swan is very reminiscent of the Whooper Swan, although it has a shorter neck relative to its size, as well as a more rounded head. The beak though is arguably its most interesting feature, and the beak of the Bewick’s Swan is predominantly black with small amounts of yellow. The yellow markings though have been recognised to be unique to each bird.

The Bewick’s Swans are long time visitors to the United Kingdom and can be found from October through to March. The rest of the year sees them located in their breeding grounds of Siberia and the Arctic coastline. Exact numbers are not known, although there is thought to be a worldwide population of near to 40000, half of these winter in Europe with the other half migrating to East Asia.
Bewick’s Swans mate for life, and during the breeding season, the pen will normally lay five eggs, the incubation period being just over four weeks.

The ideal habitat for the Bewick’s Swan is in wetland areas, especially around lakes and slow moving rivers. To this end the UK populations of the swan are found in large numbers in Cambridgeshire, at the Ouse and Nene Washes, and around the River Severn, especially Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. The wetland areas provides the swans with their normal diet of shoots, roots and leaves, although the normal diet is also often supplemented with grain stubble from farmland. The social nature of the Bewick’s Swan means that it is normally to see family groups grow and stay together over a number of years.

Bewick's Swan - Jonathan Billinger - CC-BY-SA-2.0

As to why it is called Bewick’s Swan, it is recognition of the work undertaken by the eighteenth and nineteenth century British Engraver, Thomas Bewick, who did a great deal of work in creating images of British wildlife.

The Bewick’s Swan is a relatively common sight in the United Kingdom, and although perhaps not as instantaneously recognisable as the Whooper Swan, it is a welcome visitor to the island.

Copyright - First Published 1st March 2010