Tundra Swan -- South Dakota Birds

Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

Well-named, the Tundra Swan spends its summer months on tundra lands in or near the Arctic.  The North American race is often called the "Whistling Swan", while the Eurasian race is often called "Bewick's Swan".  This is the most widespread and common of the swans normally found in North America.

Habitat: Its summer breeding grounds are the lakes and ponds of the North American tundra.  During migration and the winter months, is most often found on shallow lakes, ponds, and estuaries, often in the vicinity of agricultural fields.

Diet: Primarily feeds on the seeds, roots, and stems of aquatic plants.  Will also eat large amounts of waste grain in harvested fields, as well as the occasional small invertebrate. 

Breeding: Non-breeder in South Dakota

Song: Tundra Swan Song

Migrations: Summers on the tundra in northern Canada and Alaska.  Winters in scattered locations in the west, along the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines, and elsewhere.

Similar Species: Trumpeter Swan, Mute Swan

Status: Numbers stable, possibly increasing.

South Dakota "HotSpot": The northeastern part of the state, especially in and around Sand Lake, are prime locations to find Tundra Swans in migration.

Further Information: 1) Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Tundra Swan

2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Tundra Swan

3) eNature.com: Tundra Swan

Photo Information: March 23rd, 2006 -- Minnehaha County -- Terry Sohl

Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Tundra Swan photos.

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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl

This page was last edited on 02/03/08