Birds

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus · Lebădă de iarnă

A large all-white winter swan from the northern taiga and tundra, found in Romania mostly in the lowlands near large wetlands.

At a glance

Status in Romania: Winter visitor
Habitat: Wetland / Meadow
Activity: Morning · Daytime · Evening
Diet: Almost entirely vegetarian: aquatic and marsh plants, plus grass and crops, including seeds, especially in winter.
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Photography difficulty: Moderate

Photograph this species

Best months: January, February, October, November, December
Best time / activity: Morning · Daytime · Evening
Photography difficulty: Moderate
Where to look: From late October to February, check large lowland wetlands and nearby farmland, where flocks feed by day.

Months confirmed by a Romanian source. General guidance, not local sightings.

Plan an outing See what to look for this month

Photography Guide

Practical starting points based on the species’ behaviour and habitat, not fixed rules.

Where and how to look: From late October to February, check large lowland wetlands and nearby farmland, where flocks feed by day.
Best time / activity: Morning · Daytime · Evening
Behaviour to anticipate: Take-offs from the water and flocks flying between resting and feeding areas.
Photography difficulty: Moderate
Starting shutter speed: 1/1600 sec or faster for flight.
Fieldcraft: Stay at the edge of the field or shore and let the flock settle; a vehicle often works as a hide.
Light: White plumage clips easily; watch the highlights, especially in sun or snow.
Ethics: Do not feed birds to attract them, and avoid flushing resting or feeding flocks.

Identification

Large swan, 140–160 cm long with a 205–235 cm wingspan. Adults are entirely white; the long, slender bill is yellow with a black tip and edges. Juveniles are dirty white with a brownish tinge and a pale brown bill with a black tip.

Habitat

In winter, lowland plains with open water that does not freeze, used for resting, and farmland or open natural habitats used for feeding.

Distribution

Present only in winter, mainly in the extra-Carpathian lowlands, especially near large wetlands.

Approximate range in Romania

Lowlands and plains · Danube Delta · Danube valley and floodplainGeneral distribution only. This is not an occurrence map and does not show nesting or sensitive wildlife locations.

Diet

Almost entirely vegetarian: aquatic and marsh plants, plus grass and crops, including seeds, especially in winter.

Behaviour

One of the almost fully migratory swans. Birds wintering in Romania come mainly from breeding populations in the boreal zone and tundra of Russia.

Seasonality in Romania

Does not breed in Romania and is present only in winter. Arrives from the end of October and returns to the breeding grounds in February or early March.

PresentRareAbsentUnknown

Presence

Estimated from existing data

Breeding

Migration

Wintering

Data note. Some monthly timing is based on existing estimates and has not yet been verified against a Romanian source.

About this data

Source-verified months inform the seasonal filters. Local timing can vary. Unconfirmed months do not imply absence. Presence verification is separate from monthly status; each month's details identify its verification. Lighter bands mark estimated timing. Empty event rows mean no event is recorded, not confirmed absence.