The trumpeter swan is the largest and, some say, the most majestic of all wildfowl. Found only in North America, it is also the rarest of the seven species of swan. The trumpeter swan is a close relative and North American counterpart of the Eurasian whooper swan. These two swans are so similar in their appearance and habits that some experts consider them all to be one species.

Habitat: Once widespread throughout much of North America, the trumpeter swan was hunted to the brink of extinction during the 1800s. Of today's two main breeding populations, the largest is in southern Alaska. The other is spread thinly throughout the northern Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains. Many populations have been reintroduced to habitats within the swans former range. For most of the year the trumpeter swan inhabits lowland rivers, lakes, ponds, and freshwater marshes. It also lives in damp woodland and even on open prairies. The trumpeter swans of central North America stay in much the same area all year. The Alaskan population, however, is migratory. In autumn these swans leave the icy Alaskan tundra and fly east and south to warmer marine habitats.

Food and Feeding: The trumpeter swan feeds on a wide variety of aquatic plants. The swan pecks at bankside and water vegetation as it swims by. To reach submerged plants the swan upends, or immerses its head and neck while paddling along. Its long neck allows it to nibble at leaves and stems of plants rooted over three feet below the surface. The swan can exploit food sources beyond the reach of other water birds. Swans are wasteful feeders, often uprooting whole plants for the sake of a few leaves. Often one or two other smaller birds follow in its wake eating whatever it leaves behind.
On land the swan grazes on grass and low growing plants. It also feeds on agricultural crops such as wheat. Chiefly a plant eater, this large swan occasionally eats invertebrates along with its more usual diet of leaves and stems.

Breeding: The trumpeter swan mates for life. During breeding season each pair establishes and defends a large territory around its nest site. Territories are staked out as early as February, although migrant birds seldom reach their breeding grounds until March or April. Many pairs use the same nest site each year, often close to or on the water. If a beaver or muskrat lodge is in their area, they often build a nest on top of it. Both birds build the twiggy nest, which may be over 10 feet wide at the base, and line it with soft grass and down. The female lays her eggs in April or May and incubates them for about five weeks while the male guards their territory.

Trumpeter Swan and Man: Once common throughout much of North America, the swan was almost wiped out by early colonists. Its aggressive, territorial manner – choosing to fight rather than flee – made it an easy target for hunters. Trumpeter swans were killed both for food and for their feathers. The larger flight feathers were made into quill pens and decorations for ladies’ hats, while the softer down feathers were used for powder puffs and feather boas. By 1933 only 66 trumpeter swans were known to exist. The trumpeter swan is now protected by law and sanctuaries have been set up. In Alaska, oil exploration and mining threaten their largest habitat.

Key Facts: Sizes, Breeding, Lifestyle, and Related Species:
Sizes:
Length: Up to 6 ft.
Weight:  Male, 26 lb. Female, 20 lb.

Breeding:
Sexual maturity: 4 years; but usually not until 5 or 6
Breeding season: April to May
Eggs: 4-6, white
Incubation period: 33-37 days
Fledging period: 3-4 months

Lifestyle:
Habit: Surface feeding, partly migratory, and territorial
Diet: Aquatic vegetation
Lifespan: Up to 10 years

Related Species: Of the 6 related species of swan, 2 are classified in the genus Olor: the whooper swan, O. cygnus, and the Tundra swan, O. columbianus.
Distribution: Found throughout southern Alaska and at various sites in southern Canada, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Also winters along the coast of British Columbia.
Conservation: The trumpeter swan is now a protected species, and sanctuaries have been established throughout its range.

Features of the Trumpeter Swan: After hatching, the cygnets (young swans) will not stray far from their protective parents. Often the family remains together until the next breeding season.
Trumpeter swans use their long necks to feed off aquatic vegetation underwater.
The red line along the swan’s bill is popularly called the lipstick line.
The trumpeter swan’s long neck is made up of 25 neck bones.

Did You Know:
The trumpeter swan has a large syrinx (voice box) and a windpipe so long that it coils around the bird’s breastbone. These features create the bird’s deep and resonant trumpeting call.
Hybrids between trumpeter swans and whistling swans born in captivity are called “trumplings.”
The legend that swans sing before they die was invented by the Greeks. But some ornithologists note that the gasps of a dying swan may produce a mournful song.
During breeding season, the trumpeter swan is very protective of its nest area and the airspace above.

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