Swan i.d.
From a distance it can be difficult to distinguish Trumpeter Swans from Tundra Swans, unless they "trumpet." Today while I was watching a flock of swans feeding on stray corn kernels in a muddy field near McMinnville, I had a chance to compare the two head-to-head. The Trumpeter (on the right) shows the characteristic massive black bill with no yellow spot in front of the eye. The Tundra (on the left) obviously has a smaller bill, and the yellow spot can be clearly seen. Not only are Trumpeters no longer considered an endangered species, they are actually said to be "doing well" in the Pacific Northwest.
2 Comments:
Thank you for this photo. I had given up on deciding whether the swans we see are trumpeter or tundra. This is very helpful.
Thanks for sharing this photo. We were at the presentation you gave at MAC Library today, 2.24/07. We've birded for years. Got our first vermillion flycatcher at Patagonia AZ about 10 years ago. We've rather lost interest but your presentation has us talking about getting out again. We to haave a few yellow rumps feeding at our suet block. -Allen and Sylvia Six
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