Bewick's Swan

Cygnus bewickii (Yarrell, 1830)

2019-11-30 Issyk-Kul Balykchi	© Irina Romanovskaia

Description

Adult Bewick's Swans are all white. Legs are black. Eyes are dark-brownish. Tip of bill is balck, base of bill is yellow; the yellow passes only to rear edge of nostril. Bewick's Swan is very similar to Whooper Sawn, but distinguished by lesser size and much black on bill. Juvenile Bewick's Swans are grey above; belly and undertail coverts are white. Base of bill are meat-red, legs are reddish-black. Sizes: wing 480-560, tail 140-175, плюсна 110-114, клюв 84-100 мм. Вес 4900-6200 гр.

Biology

Rare passage migrant seen in April – May, an exceptionally large flock of 120 birds observed 4 June 1986 in lower Turgay river. Generally observed in small groups and more often singly with other Swans. Regularly recorded end September – October.

References

"Птицы Казахстана" том 1. АН КазССР. Алма-Ата, 1960. Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.