Latin: Cygnus buccinator
Average length: M 59.0", F 57.0
Average weight: M 27.9 lbs., F 22.6 lbs.
Description: The plumage of adult trumpeter swans is completely white, although their head and neck are often stained a rusty color from contact with ferrous minerals in the soils of wetland bottoms during feeding. The bill, legs, and feet are black and the iris is brown. Both sexes are identical in appearance, but males typically are larger. The trumpeter swan is larger than the similar tundra swan, however it is difficult to separate them in the field. The trumpeter swans call is more vociferous than that of the tundra swan and has been likened to the sound of a French horn. The tundra swan's call is high-pitched and reminiscent of snow geese.
Breeding: The trumpeter swan's historic breeding range extended in a wide band from the Bering Sea east through most of Canada and south to Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. Presently trumpeters breed in Alaska, the Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. Alaska accounts for over 85% of the world's breeding population, and breeding areas outside of Alaska are very localized. Trumpeter swans construct nests over water (1 to 3 feet) in extensive beds of marsh vegetation, on small islands, or muskrat and beaver lodges and lay an average of 5 eggs.
Migrating and Wintering: Trumpeter swans currently winter along the Gulf of Alaska coast, southeast Alaska, British Columbia, western Washington, western Oregon, occasionally California, eastern Nevada, western Utah, southern Montana, eastern Idaho, northwestern Wyoming, southwestern South Dakota, and small resident populations occur in the midwestern states, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
Population: Trumpeter swans were nearly extirpated as a result of over harvest and the widespread destruction and degradation of wetlands. In 1932, fewer than 70 trumpeters were known to exist worldwide. The 2001 population estimate indicates about 16,000 trumpeter swans reside in North America.
Food habits: The little information available on the diet of trumpeter swans indicates that a variety of marsh and aquatic plants compose the bulk of foods consumed. Where available, tubers of duck potato and sago pondweed are important items. The stems and leaves of sago and other pondweeds, white water buttercups, water milfoil, muskgrass, waterweed, and duckweed and the seeds of yellow pond lily, water shield, and sedges are also important food items.
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