Photo: Dominic Sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nova Scotia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northwest Territories Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nunavut Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ontario Ducks, Geese & Swans of Prince Edward Island

See what's near you right now

The Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 6.4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Cygnus
Species columbianus

Where it lives

Northern

Quick facts

Weight: 6.4 kg
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Tundra Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Tundra Swan is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA n.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 6.4 kg, with a wing length of about 53.8 cm and a tail of around 16.2 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.3 million km².

Songs & calls

Tundra Swan — Nocturnal flight call

Recorded by Flemming H. Nielsen Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Tundra Swan — Flight call, nocturnal flight call

Recorded by guus van duin Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Tundra Swan — Flight call

Recorded by Albert Lastukhin Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Tundra Swan — Call, flight call

Recorded by Bo Shunqi薄顺奇 Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

All Tundra Swan sounds, grouped by type →

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Tundra Swan?

The Tundra Swan is a very large bird that weighs around 6.4 kg.

Where does the Tundra Swan live?

The Tundra Swan is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA n, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Tundra Swan belong to?

The Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Tundra Swan eat?

The Tundra Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Tundra Swan migrate?

The Tundra Swan is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Tundra 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 Tundra Swan make?

4 real field recordings of the Tundra 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 Tundra Swan's range?

The Tundra Swan has a mapped global range of about 5.3 million km².