Trumpeter swan

Cygnus buccinator

The trumpeter swan is a large swan of North American freshwater wetlands. Diurnal pairs use marshes, lakes, and slow waters.

Key facts

Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is a herbivore animal classified as Bird · Anseriformes · Anatidae.
Primary habitats are freshwater, with a range across Nearctic.
Activity is diurnal, sociality is pair, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
The trumpeter swan is a large swan of North American freshwater wetlands.
It uses shallow lakes, marshes, ponds, and slow rivers.
Typical lifespan: 8-25 years

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

It uses shallow lakes, marshes, ponds, and slow rivers. Abundant aquatic plants and open water for takeoff are important.

Wingspan is about 185-250 cm and weight about 7-13.6 kg. White plumage, a long neck, and a black bill mark a very large, powerful flyer.

Active by day, it moves in pairs or family groups. Its loud trumpeting call carries over water, and takeoff requires a running start.

It is herbivorous, eating aquatic plants, roots, stems, and grasses. The long neck reaches underwater vegetation in shallow areas.

Pairs build large plant nests near water and defend territories. Cygnets are precocial and grow while swimming with their parents.

Its status is listed as Least Concern. Protection helped recovery in some areas, and quiet wetlands with aquatic plants remain important.