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:

Nov 1, 2023Native American Heritage Month
Apr 9, 2022Light show at the skatepark
Jan 23, 2021A sleeping green giant
Apr 26, 2020Red skies at Ruby Beach
Jun 21, 2019Ode to the sun
Aug 1, 2022Hawai i Volcanoes National Park at 106
Oct 14, 2021Happy birthday, Saguaro National Park
Sep 11, 2023Patriot Day
Nov 28, 2018Christmas comes to New York City
Jul 20, 2020Earthrise on Moon Day
Jun 28, 2020Keep shining
Dec 4, 2019Protecting endangered giants
May 10, 2024Misool, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
Nov 20, 2021World Children s Day
Feb 16, 2022Cranborne Chase, England
Aug 21, 2022International Lighthouse Weekend
Sep 5, 2019A lush, green escape
Mar 13, 2025Happy Holi!
Jan 9, 2026Muir Woods National Monument anniversary
Mar 27, 2025World Theater Day
Feb 27, 2023International Polar Bear Day
Nov 6, 2020Life in the slow lane
Nov 10, 2020Baddest of the badlands
Jul 30, 2021Working for that cliffside view
May 11, 2025Happy Mothers Day!
Feb 14, 2023Valentines Day
Apr 2, 2025Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah
Mar 11, 2022We stand with Ukraine
Oct 12, 2025Village of Saranac Lake, New York
Jun 12, 2019A big birthday for Big Bend