Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 11.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Cygnus
- Species buccinator
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Trumpeter Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Trumpeter Swan is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA Alaska, w Canada and nc USA.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 11.1 kg, with a wing length of about 62.6 cm and a tail of around 17.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Trumpeter Swan?
The Trumpeter Swan is a very large bird that weighs around 11.1 kg.
Where does the Trumpeter Swan live?
The Trumpeter Swan is found across North America with a range covering NA Alaska, w Canada and nc USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Trumpeter Swan belong to?
The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Trumpeter Swan eat?
The Trumpeter Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Trumpeter Swan migrate?
The Trumpeter Swan is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Trumpeter Swan endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Trumpeter Swan make?
4 real field recordings of the Trumpeter Swan — including its call and flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Trumpeter Swan's range?
The Trumpeter Swan has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Birb mood:
the park-pond classic
Guides for this bird
Trumpeter Swan vs Tundra Swan: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Trumpeter Swan from a Tundra Swan — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.