Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator), The Shield Ranch - Nature Conservancy (private), Yavapai County

This Trumpeter Swan was found by Kay Hawklee, Lisa Grubbs, and Kristen Rothrock and photographed by Kay Hawklee on 02 January 2019

Though apparently increasing, Trumpeter Swan remains very rare in Arizona, with nine accepted records and several more pending.

Immature swans represent one of the most challenging bird identification problems. The head is flat/angular shaped with the bill straight in a slope that resembles a Canvasback profile. Details of bill shape and pattern can be useful, but are much more variable and overlapping in young birds than in adults. Tundra Swans tend to have shorter more concave bills and more rounded heads. Tundra Swans also tend to have paler bills overall, with less black at the base. Overall color is useful, as immature Tundra Swans are paler gray and molt earlier in the winter than Trumpeter, so already have a significant amount of white feathers by January. The overall gray coloration of this bird and the mostly blackish bill support the identification of Trumpeter Swan. Also note its size, significantly larger than nearby Canada Geese.

02 January 2019, photo by Kay Hawklee

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