Mute Swan

Description:

Large Swan with reddish-orange bill and distinctive black knob at the base of the bill. Juvenile is greyish-brown overall; has grey bill with black at base

Habitat:

While a common resident of Europe, and breeds sparsely from Caspian Sea to Mongolia, it was introduced to Japan in parks and gardens with escaped birds breeding freely.

Notes:

Saw this swan hanging around the moat of Himeji Castle (near the castle gardens). As there is only one official record of a wild bird of this species in Japan (1933 on Hachijo-jima), this is likely a descendant of some the escaped birds in Japan.