Cygnus columbianus
In early spring, Tundra Swans migrate across the mountains through low-elevation passes. The snow and ice that they frequently encounter during their visit in the Rockies will not be the last of their trip; Tundra Swans usually reach their arctic breeding grounds before the spring thaw. The phrase 'swan song' is derived from this bird's reported habit of cooing a mournful death song after being shot. Like the Trumpeter Swan, the Tundra Swan's windpipe loops through the bird's sternum, which amplifies its call. The Lewis and Clark exploration team found this bird near the Columbia River, after which its scientific name was later derived. |
I.D.: Sexes similar: white plumage; large, black bill; black feet; no black on the wings; yellow 'teardrop' in front of eye; neck is held straight from its base. Immature: gray-brown plumage; gray bill. Size: L 47-58 in. (119-147 cm); W 80 in. (2 m). Range: common migrant in the lower mountain passes; rare winter resident on open water in the southern U.S. Rockies. Habitat: In migration: shallow areas of montane lakes and wetlands, agricultural fields and flooded pastures. Nesting: in the Arctic; on a raised mound in a shallow tundra pond or on a shoreline; nest is made of aquatic vegetation and moss; male stands guard while the female incubates the eggs. Feeding: tips up, dabbles and surface gleans for aquatic vegetation and aquatic invertebrates; grazes for tubers, roots and waste grain. Voice: high-pitched, quivering oo-oo-whoo is constantly repeated by migrating flocks. Similar Species: Trumpeter Swan: larger resident; loud bugle-like voice; lacks the yellow 'teardrop' on the bill. Snow Goose: smaller; black wing tips. |
