The Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) is an elegant and powerful waterbird, easily identified by its striking white plumage and bright yellow-and-black bill. While we don’t often spot them during our tours in Faxaflói Bay, they are a common sight at Reykjavík’s Tjörnin pond, where they grace the urban landscape with their presence. These swans are herbivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, grasses, and sometimes grains in agricultural fields. Known for their haunting, trumpet-like calls, Whooper Swans are migratory, with many Icelandic populations wintering in the British Isles. Observing Whooper Swans in Iceland provides insight into the country’s rich avian biodiversity and the connectivity between its wetlands and migratory routes.
