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.

Habitat: Wetlands and coastal areas

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.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderAnseriformesFamilyAnatidaeGenusCygnus

Tundra Swan

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

Tundra Swans can migrate thousands of kilometers because of their incredible stamina, helping them find food and avoid harsh winter ice.

Tundra Swans have extra-long necks that allow them to reach aquatic plants deep underwater, a crucial food source.

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
Top 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

Vulpes lagopus

Foxes prey on Tundra Swan eggs and young cygnets on the tundra.

eaten by

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

Zea mays

They feed on waste grain like corn in agricultural fields during migration.

Traits

Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Webbed Feet

Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

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.