Whooper swans in Lake Kussharo, Japan Jan 14, 2024

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:

Mar 17, 2023St. Patricks Day in County Waterford, Ireland
Jun 14, 2022Museum Mile Festival
Oct 16, 2021Unearthing a queen s lost tale
May 21, 2019Salmon return to the Copper River
Jan 22, 2018Bird’s-eye view of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
May 9, 2024Tulips at Emirgan Park in Istanbul, Türkiye
Mar 20, 2021It s time for spring
Jan 3, 2020 Field of Light at Sensorio by Bruce Munro
Dec 10, 2024Lands End, Cornwall, England
Sep 7, 2020Take a break! It s Labor Day!
Jan 8, 2023Breckenridge, Colorado
Oct 24, 2018Art over Amalfi
Jan 18, 2019An opulent backdrop for a historic event
Apr 6, 2024Castle Day in Japan
Oct 6, 2019Land ho in New Zealand 250 years ago
May 22, 2020The scene of a literary crime
Apr 17, 2022Easter
Sep 12, 2022Chestnut-eared aracari in the Pantanal, Brazil
May 20, 2024World Bee Day
Jul 21, 2026Santa Catalina Arch, Antigua, Guatemala
Apr 27, 2020That s quite a schnoz, baby tapir
Oct 27, 2022Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy
Jun 11, 2019Installation art turns heads
Aug 10, 2023World Lion Day
Nov 10, 2024Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Aug 28, 2018Class, please take out a No. 2 pencil…
Sep 17, 2018Gateway to America
Jan 21, 2023Kangaroo family for National Hugging Day
May 31, 2026End of American Wetlands Month
Sep 13, 2018They’re grrrape!