Best time to see: Oct to late Mar

Key facts

Smallest swan seen in Britain, with yellow and black bill

Habitat: freshwater, estuaries and fields

Winter visitor to Britain, arriving from Siberia in October and staying until March

Recognition

Small white swan; black bill has truncated yellow area at base, concave bill profile; 120 cm

Swims on surface and up-ends to feed, also grazes on fields like a goose; eats grass, grain and roots

Laboured flight with fast wing beats