Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide
Cygnus buccinator
Pronounced (approx.): SIG-nus byoo-SIN-ay-ter
A massive white swan with a long straight-sided black bill and a resonant trumpeting voice. [1]
Select the main image to browse all 7 photographs.
NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Scan open freshwater and marshes, listening as well as looking. Head profile and bill shape are helpful when comparing distant swans. [1]
Use the range map for seasonal context and the observation map to explore reported sightings near you.
Listen for rhythm and tone, then compare what you hear with the bird’s appearance and habitat.
Tundra Swans are smaller and often show yellow near the eye, but some lack that mark. Mute Swans have an orange bill and a prominent dark knob. [1]
Photographs © Where’s Wildlife. Select any image to open the gallery.
Showing 7 of 7 photographs.
Trumpeter Swans feed largely on aquatic vegetation, reaching underwater with their long necks. Pairs build substantial nests from plant material. Young follow the adults, learning to feed around sheltered wetland edges. [2]
Explore reported observations and photographs on iNaturalist. Zoom to your area and use date filters to investigate seasonal sightings.
Reported sightings are not a complete range map. A lack of records does not necessarily mean the species is absent.
Choose a photograph and name three clues you can see. Compare another view to learn how angle, age, season, and lighting change the bird’s appearance.