Wisconsin Swans

by Ruth Forsgren

Trumpeter Swan, Crex Meadows Wildlife Refuge (image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Tundra Swans (Flickr image) 

If you are doing outside activities in the Chippewa Valley anytime starting in mid-March through April, you may see or hear swans flying high overhead. Given the time of year these will most likely be the migrating Tundra Swans, returning to their nesting grounds in the Arctic.  A majority of them spent the winter on the Atlantic coast in an area roughly reaching from Chesapeake Bay to North Carolina. Thirty or more years ago Tundra Swans would have been the only swan species you would see in Wisconsin, but things are different today.

In 2020, there are three species of swans found in Wisconsin; Trumpeter, Tundra and Mute.

Mute Swans have an orange bill,with a black knob on top,
and hold the head and neck in an "s" shape, (Flickr image) 

The Mute Swan is introduced and considered an invasive species because it is one of the most aggressive waterfowl in the world, driving everything else from the wetland during its nesting season.  They are a large swan with an orange bill that has a black knobby bump on the top. When Mute Swans swim they hold their necks in a curved “s” shape. And that is the last I shall speak of them in this article.

The two native species of Wisconsin swans are the Trumpeter and the Tundra Swan. The fact that we can find Trumpeter Swans in Wisconsin at all in 2020 is amazing. Trumpeter Swans, once found over much of North America were severely over-hunted, and also suffered great habitat losses which took them to the brink of extinction. By the mid-1930’s there were only 69 known Trumpeter Swans in the lower 48 states, and they all lived in Yellowstone National Park and another small area in Montana. Thanks to re-introduction, education and conservation efforts, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service reported over 63,000 individuals in 2015.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources survey reported close to 6000 birds in Wisconsin as of July 2019.   

Trumpeter Swan (image by Ruth Forsgren) 

So how do we tell the difference between the Trumpeter and Tundra Swans? 

First thing to consider is what time of year you are seeing them. We only see Tundra Swans during their spring and fall migrations. The two time windows that we can see them is roughly from mid-March through first week of May and then again from Mid-October through November (keep in mind the birds cannot read a calendar and can be here outside of those time frames).  Since Trumpeter Swans nest and can overwinter here in Wisconsin they are considered year round residents. So, if you are seeing a swan here in January or July then it’s a good bet that it is a Trumpeter.

I think the next easiest way to distinguish between Trumpeter and Tundra Swans is by learning their calls. Trumpeter as their name implies has a very trumpet-like quality to their call. The Tundra Swans used to be known as the Whistling Swan because of their higher pitched whistle-like call. I don’t think of whistling when I hear them, to me they sound like a far off crowd cheering (think high school football game from several blocks away). 

There are physical differences between the two species. Trumpeter Swans are larger, in fact they are the largest waterfowl species in North America and also our heaviest flier. Trumpeters have a 7 to 8-foot wingspan, stand 4 feet tall and on average weigh between 20 to 30 pounds (some of the males, AKA cobs can weigh over 35 pounds).  Tundra Swans on the other hand; have a 6 to 7-foot wingspan, stand 3 feet tall and on average weigh between 13 to 30 pounds.

Tundra Swan (Flickr image) 

If you are close enough to use binoculars and can see the head and bill there are some differences.  The Trumpeter Swan’s head is overall more wedged shaped, where the Tundra has more of a rounded head and upturned bill. In about 80% of the adult Tundra Swans there will be yellow on the bill just under the eye. The amount of yellow can vary and some don’t have yellow at all. 

Trumpeter Swan (image Ruth Forsgren) 

The Trumpeter Swans usually show a red or dark pink stripe along the lower bill that looks a little like they are wearing lipstick. The Trumpeter Swans eyes are within the black mask of the bill, making it tough to distinguish the eye from the bill. Tundra Swans eyes are a little more separated from the bill making the eye a little more distinct.

Both of these swan species eat aquatic vegetation and require wetlands with a variety of emergent (sticking out of the water) plants.They also use the wetlands for nesting.  Tundra Swans typically lay from 3 to 5 eggs; the larger Trumpeters can lay from 5 to 9 eggs. The young of both species are known as cygnets. Cygnets are grey for their first year. The young will stay with the adults until the next nesting season has begun.

Trumpeter Swans with cygnets, Crex Meadows Wildlife Refuge
(image Ruth Forsgen)

So when you are outside in the spring taking a walk, visiting Beaver Creek or maybe working in the yard keep an eye and ear to the sky for the large flocks of Tundra Swans moving through the area.