Trumpeter Swan
A species of True Swans Scientific name : Cygnus buccinator Genus : True Swans
Trumpeter Swan, A species of True Swans
Botanical name: Cygnus buccinator
Genus: True Swans
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Photo By Alan D. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com , used under CC-BY-SA-2.5 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
The trumpeter swan is the largest extant species of waterfowl, and both the heaviest and longest native bird of North America. Adults usually measure 138–165 cm (4 ft 6 in–5 ft 5 in) long, though large males can exceed 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) in total length. The weight of adult birds is typically 7–13.6 kg (15–30 lb). Possibly due to seasonal variation based on food access and variability due to age, average weights in males have been reported to range from 10.9 to 12.7 kg (24 to 28 lb) and from 9.4 to 10.3 kg (21 to 23 lb) in females. It is one of the heaviest living birds or animals capable of flight, and, in terms of average mass, the heaviest flying bird in the world. Alongside the mute swan (Cygnus olor), Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), kori bustard (Ardeotis kori), and Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), it is one of a handful to weigh in excess of 10 kg (22 lb) between the sexes, and one survey of wintering trumpeters found it averaged second only to the condor in mean mass. The trumpeter swan's wingspan ranges from 185 to 250 cm (6 ft 1 in to 8 ft 2 in), with the wing chord measuring 60–68 cm (24–27 in). The largest known male trumpeter attained a length of 183 cm (6 ft 0 in), a wingspan of 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) and a weight of 17.2 kg (38 lb). It is the second heaviest wild waterfowl ever found, as one mute swan was found to weigh a massive 23 kg (51 lb), but it was unclear whether the latter swan was still capable of flight because of its bulk. The adult trumpeter swan's plumage is entirely white. Like mute swan cygnets, the cygnets of the trumpeter swan have light grey plumage and pinkish legs, gaining their white plumage after about a year. As with the whooper swan, this species has upright posture and generally swims with a straight neck. The trumpeter swan has a large, wedge-shaped black bill that can, in some cases, be minimally lined with salmon-pink coloration around the mouth. The bill, measuring 10.5–12 cm (4.1–4.7 in), is up to twice the length of a Canada goose's (Branta canadensis) bill and is the largest of any waterfowl. The legs are gray-pink in color, though in some birds can appear yellowish gray to even black. The tarsus measures 10.5–12 cm (4.1–4.7 in). The mute swan, introduced to North America, is scarcely smaller. However, it can easily be distinguished by its orange bill and different physical structure (particularly the neck, which is typically held curved as opposed to straight in the trumpeter). The mute swan is often found year-around in developed areas near human habitation in North America, whereas trumpeters are usually only found in pristine wetlands with minimal human disturbance, especially while breeding. The tundra swan (C. columbianus) more closely resembles the trumpeter, but is significantly smaller. The neck of a male trumpeter may be twice as long as the neck of a tundra swan. The tundra swan can be further distinguished by its yellow lores. However, some trumpeter swans have yellow lores; many of these individuals appear to be leucistic and have paler legs than typical trumpeters. Distinguishing tundra and trumpeter swans from a distance (when size is harder to gauge) can be challenging without direct comparison but it is possible thanks to the trumpeter's obviously longer neck (the great length of which is apparent even when the swan is not standing or swimming upright) and larger, wedge-shaped bill as compared to the tundra swan. Trumpeter swans have similar calls to whooper swans and Bewick's swans. They are loud and somewhat musical creatures, with their cry sounding similar to a trumpet, which gave the bird its name.
Size
147-183 cm (58-72 in)
Colors
Black
White
Life Expectancy
33 years
Nest Placement
Ground
Clutch Size
4 - 6 eggs
Number of Broods
32 - 37 days
Feeding Habits
Trumpeter Swan mostly consume aquatic plants like pondweeds, eelgrass, and algae by dabbling or rooting underwater. They also eat terrestrial plants, grains, and occasionally small fish and invertebrates, especially when young. Their feeding peaks in spring, with both daytime and nocturnal foraging behaviors.
Habitat
Trumpeter Swan inhabit large, shallow freshwater environments such as undisturbed lakes, wetlands, marshes, and slow rivers. They require less than 6 feet of water depth, with abundant aquatic vegetation and open spaces for take-off. This species thrives in cooler climates across northwestern to central North America and prefers nesting on muskrat or beaver dens, islands, and areas without human disturbance. For migration staging and wintering, trumpeter Swan are found near ice-free, moving water, deeper lakes, and occasionally in estuaries and croplands.
Nest Behavior
Trumpeter Swan pairs reuse nests annually, taking 14-35 days for construction. Both sexes build, the female shapes the nest bowl, and they exhibit devoted parental care.
Nest Characteristics
Nest of trumpeter Swan are near water, often on existing structures like muskrat dens or islands. Made of aquatic vegetation, they can reach 11 feet wide and 3 feet high, with a 10-16 inches wide bowl.
Dite type
Herbivorous
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General Info
Behavior
Trumpeter Swan engage in daily activities such as flying with swift, shallow wingbeats, often as pairs or family units, slightly lower than their avian counterparts. They forage by skimming surface vegetation, submerging their necks, or upending like ducks. Notably, they agitate water to unearth roots using their feet's paddling motion. On land, they extract tubers and consume scattered grains. A significant portion of their day is dedicated to preening for feather maintenance and waterproofing. Known for enduring pair bonds, they select nests early but may delay breeding. These swans show fidelity to their partners and offspring, migrating and overwintering as cohesive family groups, often accompanying other waterfowl.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Photo By Alan D. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com , used under CC-BY-SA-2.5 /Cropped and compressed from original