Tundra Swan (Biodiversity of Wargo Nature Center)

Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

Summary ⁵

The Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) is a small Holarctic swan. The two taxa within it are usually regarded as conspecific, but are also sometimes split into two species, Cygnus bewickii (Bewick's Swan) of the Palaearctic and the Whistling Swan, C. columbianus proper, of the Nearctic. Birds from eastern Russia (roughly east of the Taimyr Peninsula) are sometimes separated as the subspecies C. c. jankowskii, but this is not widely accepted as distinct, most authors including them...

Cygnus columbianus ⁶

Somewhat smaller (53 inches) and slimmer than the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), the Tundra Swan is most easily identified by its size, black bill, and long straight neck. Other field marks include an all-white body, black legs, and short tail. Male and female Tundra Swans are alike at all seasons. Tundra Swans inhabit a large portion of the Northern Hemisphere. The North American subspecies breeds in coastal Alaska and northwestern Canada southeast to the Hudson Bay. Swans breeding in the western part of this range spend the winter along the Pacific coast of the United States and in the mountain west; swans breeding further east winter along the Atlantic coast from New Jersey to South Carolina. In the Old World, this species breeds in northern Siberia, wintering south to Western Europe and northern China. In summer, Tundra Swans breed in coastal lakes and ponds on the arctic tundra. During the winter, this species may be found in a variety of wetland habitats, including estuaries, lakes, and rivers. Tundra Swans primarily eat plant material, including aquatic grasses, seeds, and tubers. Due to the relative inaccessibility of this species’ breeding grounds, most birdwatchers never observe Tundra Swans during the summer months. In winter, they may be most easily observed while foraging for food, when they may be seen walking on the shore or on grass further inland. They also feed on the water, where they may be seen submerging their upper bodies to seek out aquatic vegetation. This species is primarily active during the day.

Threat Status: Least Concern