Whooper swans in Lake Kussharo, Japan Jan 14, 2024

Whooper swans in Lake Kussharo, Japan

An elegant creature for a majestic setting. These whooper swans, gliding on the mirror-like surface of Japan"s Lake Kussharo, are close relatives of North America"s trumpeter swans. Named for their loud call, whooper swans are one of the world"s heaviest flying birds, weighing up to around 30 pounds and boasting wingspans of between 7 and 9 feet. Whooper swans are found across Eurasia and are Finland"s national bird, spending their breeding season there before migrating to warmer areas for winter. All that travel doesn"t ruin their relationships—these waterfowl form strong, monogamous pairs that can last for life.

© Darrell Gulin/DanitaDelimont.com

palette

Today in History

Jan 14, 2018Sanday Island and the North Sea, Scotland
Jan 14, 2019An island oasis in the Indian Ocean
Jan 14, 2020Going head-to-head with winter
Jan 14, 2021Summer huts in winter
Jan 14, 2022Road to Sa Calobra, Majorca, Spain
Jan 14, 2023Feast of the Donkey
Jan 14, 2025Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
Jan 14, 2026National Take the Stairs Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 9, 2024Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Jul 1, 2018Let the games begin
Nov 11, 2020Honoring our veterans
May 18, 2021International Museum Day
Apr 4, 2020In the path of the pronghorn
Mar 18, 2020A stroll above the stratosphere
Jun 11, 2022Misool Island, Indonesia
Feb 18, 2021A river runs through it
Feb 4, 2023Rosa Parks Day
Jul 2, 2023Its Halfway Day!
Oct 1, 2022Yosemite National Park turns 132
Jun 29, 2025International Day of the Tropics
Aug 10, 2019Seville celebrates first world tour
Oct 29, 2018In search of a ‘great’ pumpkin
Jul 16, 2025Temple of Philae, Aswan, Egypt
Apr 27, 2024National Go Birding Day
Sep 30, 2020All eyes on moths
Oct 5, 2018Is that a smile?
Sep 28, 2023World Maritime Day
Dec 9, 2018There’s treasure in them thar hills
May 24, 2021A bridge comes full circle
May 14, 2023Happy Mothers Day!
May 18, 2018It’s Endangered Species Day
Nov 30, 2025Christmas market in Leipzig, Germany
Dec 8, 2022The Cathedral of Florence, Italy
Sep 23, 2021Last stop before leaving the solar system
Mar 6, 2023Icelandic horses, Iceland
Feb 7, 2021It s superb owl Sunday
Jun 4, 2023Waiānapanapa State Park, Maui, Hawaii
Oct 26, 2024Gespensterwald, Nienhagen, Germany