Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

The Tundra Swan, with its pristine white plumage and graceful presence, is a true globetrotter, migrating vast distances across the Northern Hemisphere.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Tundra Swan is a striking bird with pure white plumage, a long graceful neck, and a black bill often marked with a small yellow patch at the base. Adults typically measure 120-150 cm in length, with a wingspan of 168-211 cm.

Juveniles display grayish-brown feathers, gradually molting to white over their first year. The species shows no significant sexual dimorphism, with males and females appearing nearly identical, though males are usually slightly larger.

Size

Length

120cm to 150cm

Wingspan

168cm to 211cm

Weight

3.7kg to 9.6kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Black Yellow

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Tundra Swan is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Tundra Swan is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Tundra Swan can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Tundra Swan can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Tundra Swan is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Tundra Swan is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Tundra Swan is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Tundra Swan is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Tundra Swan can be found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Tundra Swan is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Tundra Swan is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Tundra Swan is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Tundra Swans breed in the Arctic tundra of North America and Eurasia, favoring shallow wetlands and coastal areas. During migration and winter, they inhabit a variety of wetland habitats, including estuaries, lakes, and flooded fields.

In North America, they winter along both coasts, from Alaska to California in the west and from Maryland to North Carolina in the east.

In Europe, Bewick's Swans (the Eurasian subspecies) winter in the UK, Netherlands, and other parts of Western Europe.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Arctic, Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Tundra Swan. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons