Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianusTundra Swan

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Photo by: Maga-chan/Wikipedia

Brief Descriptionvery little visual difference between males and femalesall white plumagedistinctive round or square yellow patchesbelow and in front of either eye very large and have heavy bodies that weigh between thirteen and fourteen poundswingspan of six to seven feet

Photo from blog.seeingbirds.com

Habitat Type and LocationWinter on salt water bays and estuariesmarshy lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, and flooded fieldsBreeding occurs in Alaska and Canada along river deltas

Photo from chickadeephotoart.com

Diet and Feeding BehaviorTubers and rots of aquatic plantsMollusks and grainsRest in places with large amounts of food to feed entire flockWill go head to head over clams with other birds

Map by Cornell Lab of OrnithologyRange Data by NatureServe

Migration Patterns

Photo from http://my.kwic.com/~pagodavista/schoolhouse/species/birds/hunt.htmNatural EnemiesHunting and humans are their biggest natural enemyOther animals include:foxes, bears, and wolvesEagles, mountain lions, and raccoons

Photo by Darren Naish

Defensive BehaviorOnly aggressive when defending young and breeding groundsTackles and tramples intrudersGrab tails of other birds during aerial defenseSwans take flight before bigger animals can reach the nest-helps keep the nest hidden

Photo from Stockpix.comSocial BehaviorSwans travel in large flocks that forage and roost togetherSocial except when mating-individual mating pairs have their own breeding territory that they guardFlocks breed in same area as one another

Photo by Ed Oliveras

Seen as nonaggressive and nondestructiveWill share feeding and resting grounds with other species

Photo by: US Fish and Wildlife Service

Reproductive Behavior and Life Cycle:3-5 eggs are laidFemales incubate the eggs for 32-34 daysCygnets brooded by both parents until fall migration

Photo by: John Cancalos

Both parents take an active role in defending Cygnets and nest citesCygnets are cared for even after theyre capable of swimming and feeding themselves

Photo By:Mike Jan 2014 RoadsEndNaturalist.com

male and female courtship begins in late winter and continues into the springBreeding pairs mate for life

Photo from:IUCN Red List

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Photo byClaude King

Current ResearchBeing studied:-The underuse of stopover sites-migratory behaviors-migratory patterns-if ice cover effected spring and fall migrations

Photo by D. Montgomery (USFWS)

Weather change leads to higher water levelsHigher water levels leads to underuse of stopover cites-swans cant reach underwater plants

The End

A presentation by: Megan Nieters-Blair

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