Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl
Tundra Swan
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Cygnus columbianus
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Voice
Call
How to recognize it
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Body length 115–146 cm
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Adults with white plumage, black feet and a relatively short neck
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Mostly black bill with a thin pink stripe along the mouthline; yellow at the base varies by subspecies
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High-pitched honks, especially while feeding in winter flocks
About the species
Adult plumage is white from head to tail, with black feet and a mostly black bill that gives the face a sharp contrast. A fine salmon-pink line runs along the mouth, while the amount of yellow at the bill’s base varies between populations. Young swans carry dull grey feathers on the head and upper neck before becoming almost entirely white.
Their high-pitched honks sound much like a black goose’s call, especially in winter feeding flocks, where an arrival or departure can set off calls from the rest of the group. They reach plants by dipping their heads underwater or tipping forward as they swim. Outside the breeding season they gather in flocks, while pairs defend a territory around the nest.
They breed around shallow pools, lakes and rivers in Arctic and subarctic tundra, then migrate south for winter. Wintering grounds include grassland and marsh, often near the coast; in summer they eat aquatic plants, while in colder months they also feed on leftover grain and other crops in harvested fields.
Where to find
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In summer, on the Arctic tundra beside shallow lakes and rivers, look for tundra swans feeding on aquatic plants by dipping their heads underwater or upending.
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In winter, listen at coastal marshes for loud calls from flocks feeding together.
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After harvest, watch open fields for flocks picking up leftover grain and other crops.
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During migration, watch for flocks stopping over at mountain lakes.
