Tundra Swans 40D0033946

Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus)

The Tundra Swan is a majestic and stately bird. There is nothing comparable to being out on a beautiful spring day near a marsh or open lake and hear their "whooping sound".

The males have an average weight of 10 pounds (4.5 kg) and the females are around 7 pounds (3.2 kg). The eggs are up to 3 inches long (1.4 cm) and are mottled in color. The males and females are the same color and one can only differentiate between them are by their size. You may find some having an ash gray color which are the immature or juveniles, that take from 1 to 2 years to mature.
A Tundra swan is all white with black feet and a black bill, and has a yellow dot or 1/4 yellow at the end near its eye. Their song is a whooping sound. Be careful not to mistake them for their sister species, the Trumpeter Swan, that can be 2/3rds larger and have a solid black bill. The Trumpeter Swan’s call is also different and sounds like a French horn.

More info: [link]