Identification

There are three species of swans in North America. The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) and Tundra Swan (C. columbianus) are indigenous, while the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is a Eurasian species that has been introduced and now breeds in the wild in some areas. All three are very large all-white birds. The male swan is called the Cob. He typically weighs more and looks larger than the female (the Pen). Young-of- the-year swans are called Cygnets.

Click here for a handy, printable swan/goose identification brochure that will give you many excellent tips for what to look for while in the field. It's important to know! You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Mute Swans are easily distinguished by the bright orange bill and distinctive knob on the forehead. Trumpeters and Tundras are similar looking species that are more difficult to identify. Reports from wildlife observers will help biologists monitor the recovery of Trumpeter Swans. Positive identification is essential, as Trumpeters often mix with flocks of the relatively common Tundra Swan throughout their migration and winter range.

Distinguishing Trumpeters from Tundras is not easy, but it is possible by paying close attention to a few distinctive characteristics.

Mute	Trumpeter	Tundra

Voice -- an absolute method of species identification. You can hear swan voices as described below...if you have a sound card and everything works right.

These sound files are BIG: each 6-second clip is 65 kb and will take at least 20 seconds to load, depending on the speed of your internet connection -- but it will be worth the wait!

• Tundra Swans have a high-pitched, often quavering OO-OO-OO accentuated in the middle; or WHO, WHO-HO, WOO-OO-WOOO, or WHO-WHO. If that description is a bit hard to get your mind around, you can hear a Tundra Swan call in flight.
• Trumpeters have an unmistakable resonant, loud, trumpet-like call. Hmmmm...I wonder how they got the name Trumpeter Swan. Hear a few happy Trumpeters right HERE!
• Mute Swans are generally silent but not "mute." However, their grunts, snorts, and quiet whistles cannot be confused with the distinctive calls of Trumpeter and Tundra Swans.

Size

Trumpeters are much larger than Tundra Swans and slightly larger than Mute Swans. These size differences may be difficult to use as distinguishing features unless two species are side by side or seen at very close range. To most people, any swan is BIG. Representative measurements of all three species are in the following table.

Head and Bill Characteristics
Click on the heading for a whole page on head and bill characteristics!

Head and Neck Movement

• Trumpeter Swans frequently bob their head and necks up and down (head bobbing). With this motion they also have a variety of vocalizations. This combined activity apparently serves as a form of communication between individuals and within the group. Head bobbing and vocalization activity increase when the birds are disturbed and it reaches maximum intensity just prior to the birds taking flight. This behavior may be brief or absent if the birds are suddenly startled and take flight.
• Tundra Swans do not bob their head and neck in this manner.Occasionally Tundras will nod only their head up and down. There is no definite preflight display as in the Trumpeter.

Posture

Trumpeters afloat or ashore, resting or in a mild state of alertness, generally have the neck kinked back at the base so that it appears to rise from the forepart of the back forming an angular C-shape (swimming swan) rather than from the very front of the body as in Tundra Swans. When in a state of alertness, Trumpeters hold their bodies at an angle as compared to Tundras which are held horizontal (standing swan). In general, body postures of Trumpeters are angular and Tundra postures are curved or round. Mute Swans generally hold the neck curved gracefully and bill pointed somewhat downward. Wings may be arched over the back giving a bulky appearance.

Proportion of the Neck to Body Length

Trumpeters have longer necks in proportion to their body lengths than do Tundras. There is no standard ratio formula but this is a noticeable characteristic when the birds are either standing or swimming. It is not reliable in flight.

Flight Profiles and Takeoff Behavior

Trumpeter Swans, following the takeoff run and just as they become airborne, will pull their necks into a shallow "S" curve. This is seen only for a very brief time during their first wing beats to stay airborne. Tundra Swans hold their necks straight the entire time of the takeoff run and initial flight. This characteristic applies to both land and water takeoffs. Trumpeter Swans may be the last birds in a mixed flock to take off. They may stay as long as one or more minutes longer than the Tundra Swans. This happens when Trumpeter and Tundra Swans occur together but are not entirely intermingled (Trumpeters remain at one end of the flock as a group). This behavior is usually seen in smaller mixed flocks of less than 200 swans. This is a subtle characteristic for separating Trumpeters from Tundras and must be used in conjunction with other identification methods.

For some additional fine tuning on Trumpeter/Tundra Swan identification, check out the Trumpeter Swan Identification Checklist from Joe Morlan's California Birding Pages. Also, visit the Cornell University bird website for additional photos.