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Whooper swan or bewick's swan (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter arno7
- Start date
Cristian Mihai
Cristian Mihai
Me too.
StuartReeves
Local rarity
My initial impression was Bewick's but on balance I don't think the photos are good enough for a conclusive ID.
_pauls
Well-known member
I posted a question on here earlier (see link) about distinguishing whoopers and bewicks in flight as I'd seen a small group flying over me but without good enough views (or photographs) to determine the proportion of yellow and black on the bills.
I was interested to know if the depth and cadence of the wingbeats could help distinguish between the two as for me the swans I saw had relatively shallow fast beats.
Rockfowl kindly located videos of the two species in flight which made it clear that they were indeed bewicks.
So I guess the question is - did the swans have deep slow wingbeats or shallower faster motion?
(looking at the photos i'd say based on the length of neck and the extent of downbeat on the wings I'd reckon these are whoopers).
I was interested to know if the depth and cadence of the wingbeats could help distinguish between the two as for me the swans I saw had relatively shallow fast beats.
Rockfowl kindly located videos of the two species in flight which made it clear that they were indeed bewicks.
So I guess the question is - did the swans have deep slow wingbeats or shallower faster motion?
(looking at the photos i'd say based on the length of neck and the extent of downbeat on the wings I'd reckon these are whoopers).
Bird-Nut
Well-known member
MSA
I may be relaxed but I'm not drunk....
Very tricky, but I'd go for Bewicks - yellow appears to be no more than than 1/2 of bill length, and head shape seems a little more angular than I'd expect for Whooper (which have an Eider-like profile). However, this is stretching what can be "seen" a little, maybe!
From what can be seen these give a strong impression of Bewick's Swans to me, but it's very tricky to be sure.
dantheman
Bah humbug
Can't say I'm anywhere experienced (don't get too many of either flying past anywhere I've lived in over the last few years) , but ...
Jizz wise, aren't Bewick's going to be/meant to be relatively more 'goose-like' in appearance, whilst Whoopers have a silly long neck, totally spoiling the impression.
Looking at the thumbnails, I'd say Bewicks on this basis, surely ... ??
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Jizz wise, aren't Bewick's going to be/meant to be relatively more 'goose-like' in appearance, whilst Whoopers have a silly long neck, totally spoiling the impression.
Looking at the thumbnails, I'd say Bewicks on this basis, surely ... ??
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Bewick's Swans. Bill, neck.
Jan-Paul Charteris
Sussex birder and budding moth enthusiast
Extent of yellow on bill here is hard to judge but looks right for Bewick's as far as I can make out. The neck length/proportion to body shouts Bewick's. These photos can at best give an impression of head-bill profile but would also have me leaning towards Bewick's if I strain my eyes looking at the photos. I think there is enough visible in these photos to ID them as Bewick's with reasonable confidence and that was certainly my first impression upon opening the thumbnails.
Jan
Jan
rokermartin
Well-known member
Another one for Bewick's
dan pointon
Can't Stop
Another vote for Bewick. Neck looks short for Whooper to me and yellow on bill seems restricted, but that's far from conclusive given the quality of the shots.
Brian Stretch
Well-known member
All Bewick's for me.
In some of those shots the overall shape of some birds, with their necks not fully extended, recall goose structure and points to Bewick's. The amount of yellow on the bills in the clearer shots also appear fairly resticted.
Brian
____________________
www.birdingtoday.co.uk
In some of those shots the overall shape of some birds, with their necks not fully extended, recall goose structure and points to Bewick's. The amount of yellow on the bills in the clearer shots also appear fairly resticted.
Brian
____________________
www.birdingtoday.co.uk
Ashley beolens
Breeding the next generation of birders.
I thought they gave an appearance of short necks indicating Bewicks, but I wouldn't swear on it.
Gill Osborne
Well-known member
Another Bewick voter here - the bill just looks less-yellowy than in whooper.
Having said that, I've yet to see a wild Bewick as we tend to only get whoopers in these parts
Having said that, I've yet to see a wild Bewick as we tend to only get whoopers in these parts
saviornitho
Jérémy Savioz
Bewick for me too
