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Trumpeter Swan
Photos by Bruce
Dayton
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ORDER:
Anseriformes
FAMILY: Anatidae (Ducks and Geese - 52 Species)
SPECIES:
Trumpeter Swan
(Cygnus buccinator)
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Trumpeter Swan |
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The Trumpeter Swan the only native swan in the East. This bird was named for its trumpet-like honk. The male is called a cob; the female is called a pen. Entirely white plumage except when feeding in iron-rich areas, then the feathers on its head and neck may take on a orange-red tinge. |
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SIZE |
The Trumpeter Swan is one of Americas largest (62-72”) waterfowl species native to North America. |
| DESCRIPTION | These birds have white
plumage with a long neck, a
short black bill that extends back to the eyes. They have short black
legs and feet. It holds its neck straight up, unlike the Mute Swan, which
bends its neck in a graceful curve.
The juvenile birds have a dusky gray-brown; bill pink with black base and tip. Standing on the ground, an adult Trumpeter stands about 4 feet high. Sexes are similar in appearance, but male is slightly larger. |
| NESTING | Clutch size ranges from 3-9 eggs, which are incubated in 30 to 35 days. Nest is a mound of plant material on a muskrat house or a floating platform surrounded by a ring of water. |
| RANGE | The Trumpeter Swan is found only in North America. |
| HABITAT | They habitat includes wetlands, lakes, ponds, and marshes. Especially shallow ponds, which provide the variety of food on which they require. |
| DIET | These birds feed mainly on aquatic plants, but they may also eat grasses and grains in fields. The swans tip up like mallards and root through the mud for their favorite roots. |
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| Trumpeter Swan | |
| Montezuma
National Wildlife Refuge Seneca County, New York |
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| TpSw_061T_007748 | TpSw_061T_017943 |
| Union
Springs Cayuga County, New York |
Montezuma
National Wildlife Refuge Seneca County, New York |
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| TpSw_061T_020155 | TpSw_061T_506637 |
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Virginia Rail Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes |
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| INTERESTING FACTS |
| Hybridization |
| Only related species can hybridize and hybrids tend to be incapable of reproduction. They are usually at a disadvantage in the struggle for survival, as natural selection tends to operate against them. Sometimes referred to as “interbreeding.” |
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Please email with any ideas or comments concerning this web page. |
| The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit. |
NOTE: This site will be updated as time and pictures become available.
Visit Mammals of North America
Trumpeter Swan
(
Cygnus buccinator)
Updated 10-23-2008
