Tundra swan

Scientific name: Cygnus columbianus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Large white waterfowl with black legs and feet; adults show a small yellow patch at base of bill (smaller than Whooper swan). Cygnets are grey-brown, molting to white by second year. Males and females appear similar in plumage, though males average slightly larger.

Size and weight

Males 6.5–8.5 kg, females 5.5–7.5 kg; body length 120–150 cm. Wingspan 180–210 cm.

Habitat

Tundra swans breed on arctic and subarctic tundra with shallow lakes, ponds, and wetlands. They migrate through and winter on coastal bays, estuaries, and freshwater lakes in temperate regions.

Distribution

Breeds across North American and Siberian tundra; winters primarily along Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico and Atlantic coast from Great Lakes to Chesapeake Bay. Concentrations occur in traditional coastal staging areas during migration.

Diet

Primary diet consists of aquatic vegetation (pondweeds, sedges, grasses) obtained by dabbling and upending in shallow water; also grazes on emergent vegetation and agricultural crops during migration and winter.

Behaviour

Highly gregarious outside breeding season, forming flocks of hundreds; diurnal feeders and strong fliers with rapid wingbeats. Pairs form long-term bonds and defend breeding territories; migratory populations show predictable seasonal movement.

Hunting tips

Look for flocks on open water and mudflats at dawn and dusk; approach from downwind using terrain or water cover to minimize visibility. Listen for distinctive high-pitched calls to locate birds. Best approach over open water or across shallow bays where swans congregate; use decoys in traditional staging areas where birds show predictable movement patterns.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

United States

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.