What does the Whooper Swan eat?

The Whooper Swan's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Herbivore, primarily feeding on aquatic vegetation, grasses, and agricultural crops.

How it forages

Primarily grazers, feeding on submerged aquatic vegetation (roots, stems, leaves), grasses, sedges, and agricultural crops like potatoes, cereals, and oilseed rape. They dabble and up-end in shallow water to reach vegetation, and graze on land.

When it feeds

Diurnal, though they may feed at night, especially in wintering grounds if disturbed during the day.

Explore the Whooper Swan