Trumpeter Swan

Overview

The trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is the largest extant species of waterfowl and the heaviest living bird native to North America. As the American counterpart and close relative of the Eurasian whooper swan, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List following a successful population recovery from near-extinction status in the 1930s.

Identification

• Entirely white adult plumage with an upright posture and a long, straight neck.
• Possesses the largest bill of any waterfowl species, which is large, wedge-shaped, and black, sometimes minimally lined with salmon-pink coloration.
• Emits loud, musical calls that resemble a trumpet, giving the species its name.
• Grey-pink legs, though these can appear yellowish grey or black in some individuals.

Habitat

Breeding habitats include large and shallow ponds, undisturbed lakes, pristine wetlands, and marshes in northwestern and central North America, with the largest numbers of breeding pairs found in Alaska. The species migrates in V-shaped flocks to the southern tier of Canada, parts of the northwestern United States, and occasionally as far south as Colorado and Mexico, though some released populations are non-migratory.

Diet

These birds feed while swimming by up-ending or dabbling to reach submerged aquatic plants, eating both the leaves and stems of submerged and emergent vegetation. They also dig into muddy substrates to extract roots and tubers, and in winter may consume grasses and grains in fields.

Did you know?

The species name buccinator is derived from the word bucina, referring to a specific type of military trumpet, highlighting the bird's distinctive vocalisation.