Cygnus columbianus
The Tundra Swan, Cygnus columbianus, is a majestic medium-sized swan, immediately recognized by its pristine white plumage, long graceful neck, and black bill. Adults typically measure between 120-150 cm (47-59 in) in length with an impressive wingspan of 170-195 cm (67-77 in), weighing 4-10 kg (8.8-22 lbs). A key field mark for the North American subspecies (*C. c. columbianus*) is a variable yellow spot at the base of the black bill, often extending from the lore, though some individuals ma...
Breeding occurs primarily in arctic and subarctic tundra wetlands, including shallow ponds, lakes, and rivers. During winter, they favor temperate coastal estuaries, large freshwater lakes, river deltas, and flooded agricultural fields.
Their diet consists mainly of aquatic vegetation, including roots, tubers, stems, and leaves, along with seeds and waste grains from agricultural fields in winter. They forage by dabbling, up-ending, and sometimes shallow diving for submerged plants.
Tundra Swans are diurnal, often foraging during daylight hours and roosting on open water at night, particularly during migration and winter. They are primarily grazers and dabblers, feeding on submerged aquatic vegetation, roots, and tubers, frequently up-ending like ducks. On their breeding gro...
The Tundra Swan exhibits a widespread Holarctic distribution, with its breeding range exclusively within arctic and subarctic regions. The North American subspecies, *C. c. columbianus*, breeds across the vast tundra wetlands of Alaska and northern Canada, extending as far east as western Greenla...
Least Concern
- The Tundra Swan undertakes one of the longest migratory journeys of any North American waterfowl, often flying thousands of miles from the Arctic to temperate wintering grounds. - The size and presence of the distinctive yellow spot on the black bill are highly variable; some individuals, parti...