Tundra Swan ( Cygnus columbianus), Apache Station Wildlife Area, Sunsites, Cochise County

These Tundra Swans are part of a group of four first discovered by Vivian MacKinnon on 12 January 2009 and  photographed by Christie Van Cleve on 16 January 2009. 

Tundra Swan is a casual to rare winter visitor to Southeast Arizona.

The obvious yellow spot on the bill of one of these birds is diagnostic for Tundra Swan.  The other bird does not show an obvious yellow spot.  However, the thin strip of facial skin connecting the eye and the bill is nearly as diagnostic for adult Tundra Swan.  Also the U-shaped forehead feathering above the bill is also nearly diagnostic in adult Tundra.  In adult Trumpeter, the facial skin usually extends as a wedge and  encloses the eye and the feathering above the bill is V-shaped.  Finally, if the second bird were a Trumpeter, it would also look larger in direct comparison to the Tundra. 

16 January 2009, photo by Christie Van Cleve

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer

 

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