North America's heaviest native bird at up to 30 pounds, the trumpeter swan was nearly extinct in 1933 with only 70 known birds — today the population exceeds 60,000 thanks to a model recovery effort.

Also called: Trumpeter

Native status: Native; recovered

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 1.4–1.7 m (4.5–5.5 ft); wingspan 2.0–2.4 m
Weight10–14 kg (22–31 lb)
LifespanWild 12 years average; oldest documented 24
OrderAnseriformes
FamilyAnatidae

§ Encyclopedia

The trumpeter swan, or simply the trumpeter, is a species of swan found in North America. The heaviest living bird native to North America, it is also the largest extant species of waterfowl, with a wingspan of 185 to 304.8 cm. It is the American counterpart and a close relative of the whooper swan of Eurasia and has even been considered the same species by some authorities. By 1933, fewer than 70 wild individuals were known to exist; extinction seemed imminent until aerial surveys discovered a Pacific population of several thousand trumpeter swans around Alaska's Copper River. Careful reintroductions by wildlife agencies and the Trumpeter Swan Society gradually restored the North American wild population to over 46,000 birds by 2010.

Source: Wikipedia — Trumpeter swan Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Massive all-white swan with black bill.

Similar species. Tundra Swan (smaller). Mute Swan (orange bill).

Voice. Iconic trumpeting honks.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Aquatic plants, grain, occasionally grasses.

Behavior. Largest US native waterfowl. Pairs mate for life.

§ Range

Northwestern North America, recovering ranges in Great Lakes region

§ Habitat

Shallow lakes, ponds, marshes, and slow-moving rivers

§ Threats

Lead poisoning from spent shot, power-line collisions, illegal shooting, climate disruption to Arctic breeding habitat.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the trumpeter swan is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Use non-lead ammunition and tackle. Support northern wetland conservation. Report banded birds to USGS.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Trumpeter Swan Society
  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • USFWS
  • IUCN Red List 2016