The largest species of waterfowl in North America, Trumpeter Swan is white overall with black bill, legs and feet. The head and neck are sometimes stained yellowish. The top edge of the bill is straight and the forehead flat, creating a straight profile (unlike the concave profile of Tundra Swan). Viewed from the front, the feathering on the forehead forms a sharp point on the base of the bill (rounded on Tundra Swan). The dark loral skin is as wide as the eye, not pinched off like it is on Tundra Swan. Juvenile: A smudged gray-brown overall. Young birds keep this darker plumage throughout their first winter. The bill is dull pink with black base and loral skin, and a black tip.
Length: 147 (cm) Wingspan: 183 (cm)
A reedy ah-OOH, which some compare to a toy horn.
Breeds near freshwater wetlands. Winters in freshwater lakes, rivers, wetlands, agricultural fields, and estuaries.
Requires long running start to become airborne.
Eats aquatic plants, grain; rarely, fish.
Among points of distinction noted on a lone ad. Trumpeter Swan in December in nw. California (heard, photographed, and accepted by the state records committee) was that the bird's neck musculature seemed more developed, such that there was a shallow groove along the side of the neck. Tundra Swans in the same flock did not show this, or at least not to the extent of this individual.
Citation: Personal Experience. I recently observed this, confidence uncertain at this time.
A great resource for learning how to separate immature Tundra and Trumpeter Swans can be found at this link: http://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/juvenile-swans.html
Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this regularly, highly confident.
Expanded Life History
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Small numbers pass annually through eastern Washington. Where are they going to/coming from?by Steven Mlodinow on June 22, 2010 at 03:39 pm
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One year old Trumpeter Swans (birds in their second fall/winter) often have some gray on head and neck, and the featured photo may be of a one year old bird, rather than an adult.
Additionally, the shape of the feathering extending onto culmen is somewhat variable, and some Trumpeters will have that feathering appear somewhat rounded, while some Tundra Swans may show a bit of a point to this feathering. In immatures, this mark is even less accurate.
Also note that birds in their first fall/winter/spring have yellow feet and toe-webbing, a mark that some birds, I believe, carry into their second year.by Steven Mlodinow on June 22, 2010 at 03:38 pm
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