# Tundra Swan (*Cygnus columbianus*) The Tundra Swan is a beautiful bird that migrates long distances! It has a lovely white body and a bright yellow patch on its face. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Wetlands and coastal areas ![Tundra Swan](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426801/objects/4617.jpg) ## Appearance The Tundra Swan is a medium-sized white swan with a long, elegant neck. It typically has a black bill, often with a small yellow spot near the eye, and black legs and feet. It is visually distinct from the larger Trumpeter Swan by its often smaller size and the yellow marking. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Cygnus ## Interesting facts - A group of flying swans is called a "wedge" – very cool! - Baby swans, called cygnets, are born gray and turn white later. - They swallow grit and small stones to help digest tough plants. - Tundra Swans mate for life and teach their young migration routes. ## Special abilities - **Arctic Navigator:** Tundra Swans can migrate thousands of kilometers because of their incredible stamina, helping them find food and avoid harsh winter ice. - **Deep Diver Neck:** Tundra Swans have extra-long necks that allow them to reach aquatic plants deep underwater, a crucial food source. - **Vocal Communicator:** Tundra Swans can make varied trumpeting calls because of their long windpipe, helping them communicate within their flock. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 120-150 cm - **Wingspan:** 170-200 cm - **Weight:** 6-9 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 31-32 days - **Migration Distance:** 6000 km ## Diet & Feeding These large birds munch on tasty underwater plants and grains from farm fields! - **Primary Foods:** aquatic plant roots, seeds, farm grains, grasses - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Arctic Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-fox) (*Vulpes lagopus*) — Foxes prey on Tundra Swan eggs and young cygnets on the tundra. - **Eaten by:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Eagles may hunt young Tundra Swan cygnets in some wintering areas. - **Eats:** Curled Pondweed (*Potamogeton crispus*) — Swans forage extensively on the roots and tubers of pondweed species. - **Eats:** [Corn](https://www.snappit.app/explore/corn) (*Zea mays*) — They feed on waste grain like corn in agricultural fields during migration. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tundra Swan? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Tundra Swan? 120-150 cm ### What is Tundra Swan's wingspan? 170-200 cm ### How much does Tundra Swan weigh? 6-9 kg ### How long does Tundra Swan live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Tundra Swan move? 80 km/h ### What does Tundra Swan eat? These large birds munch on tasty underwater plants and grains from farm fields! ### Where is Tundra Swan usually found? Wetlands and coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Buckingham Female Collegiate Institute Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buckingham-female-collegiate-institute-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Green Springs National Historic Landmark District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/green-springs-national-historic-landmark-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Greene–Sullivan State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greene-sullivan-state-forest) — Indiana, US · Forest - [Locke](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/locke) — California, US · Historic District - [Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bill-burton-fishing-pier-state-park) — Maryland, US · State Park - [Ping Tom Memorial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ping-tom-memorial-park) — Illinois, US · Park [View all places to see Tundra Swan](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/tundra-swan) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Tundra Swan: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tundra-swan)