Trumpeter Swans are our largest native waterfowl, growing to a maximum length of 6 feet and weighing more than 25 pounds, making them nearly twice as large as Tundra Swans. It takes a ponderous takeoff along a 100-yard runway to get airborne. This species, which was previously in danger of extinction but is currently making a comeback, is as beautiful as any swan, with a graceful neck and snowy-white plumage. In northern Alaska, Canada, and the northwest United States, they spawn on wetlands, and in ice-free coastal and interior waterways, they spend the winter.
Trumpeter Swan Specifications
Trumpeter Swan ID
Look for these gigantic swans in meadows or relatively shallow water. They will be bigger than the related Tundra Swan and have a straighter neck than Mute Swans (although they are more likely to be found in rural areas than in urban ponds). In recent years, trumpeter swans have increased their geographic range as they continue their recovery from near extinction. In reality, the species is now widely distributed over the Midwest and Great Lakes and in isolated areas of the Northern Rockies, making it more likely than the far more common Tundra Swan to be seen during the summer.
