The small swan is very similar to the whooper , but shorter: its length is 115-127 cm and 170-195 cm wingspan. The small swan weighs about 5-6 kg. The voice of the small swan is also similar to the voice of a whooper, only quieter and lower. In addition, the small swan has its beak more black, while the whooper, on the contrary, has a black color only on the tip of the beak.
The little swan lives only on the territory of Russia in the tundra of the European and Asian parts of our country. It is also found on the islands Kolguev , Vaigach and the southern island of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago . It used to nest on the Kola Peninsula, now disappeared from there, as well as from other areas of the southern tundra, for example, there are no places on the Yamal and Taimyr . Today, the western and eastern populations are distinguished; some ornithologists regard these populations as different subspecies. The western population nests in the tundra from the Kola Peninsula to the coast of Taimyr . In the south it extends to the forest tundra of the Yenisei Valley. It also nests on the Kanin Peninsula, on the Yugorsky Peninsula, along the Kara Coast, on Yamal and Gydan . The eastern population inhabits the coastal tundra from the Lena delta to the Chaun lowland . The western population flies over to the UK , France and the Netherlands , as well as to the Caspian Sea basin . Eastern population flies to China , Japan and Korea . In total, the small swan spends 120-130 days in the tundra.
The small swan prefers open spaces of water, in wooded areas it prefers not to nest.
Power
Like the rest of the swans, it feeds on plant food, both aquatic plants and terrestrial, in particular, grass, berries. In addition to plant food, the eastern population also feeds on aquatic invertebrates. Also a small swan often eats small fish.
In the color of the beak of a small swan is more black than yellow
Reproduction
Like all swans, the small swan is a monogamous bird that forms pairs for 2-4 years of life and remains faithful all its life. Couples arrive in the nesting place in spring, when snow begins to melt and polynyas appear. Nests on the marshy tundra among numerous lakes, as well as in the lower reaches of rivers. Often couples nest at a distance of several kilometers from one another, but there is also a denser nesting, when the distance between couples is about 500-700 m. Marital games take place on land. The male walks in front of the female, stretching his neck, sometimes raises his wings. At the same time, he makes a kind of clapping sound and screams loudly. Then the pair flies to a new place and the ritual is repeated again. The female alone builds a nest on a small dry elevation. Some nests have been used for many years by different generations of birds. The tray, like the rest of the swans, is lined with feathers from its own chest. Masonry consists of 1–5 eggs of white color, during incubation, becoming covered with yellow-brown spots. Eggs are hatched by both the female and male, mostly this occurs in the eastern population. After 29-30 days the chicks appear covered with pale gray down. Immediately after this, the swans leave the nest, leading the chicks to the water. After 40-45 days, young swans stand on the wing: it is much faster than any other species of swans . Shedding takes place in the nesting area.
Wintering
The main direction of autumn migration is along the Arctic coast to the west, to the wintering grounds in the countries of Western Europe , mainly from Ireland to Denmark .
