How to identify it
Large all-white swan, 3 ft 11 in-4 ft 7 in. [1]
Black bill (not orange as in Mute Swan), usually with a small yellow spot in front of the eye. [1]
Juveniles dull gray-brown with a pinkish bill, whitening by midwinter. [1]
Call a mellow, bugling 'hoo-ho-hoo', often heard from migrating flocks. [1]
Compared with the mute swan: Mute swan has an orange bill; adult tundra swan's bill is black, usually with a small yellow spot before the eye. [1]
Species it is confused with
Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.
- Trumpeter swan · Cygnus buccinator
- Mute swan · Cygnus olor
Field notes
- Identification Do not identify Tundra swan from colour alone. Compare structure, size, range and the listed similar species before making a field decision.[1]
Where it lives
Breeds on northern tundra with many lakes and ponds, usually near the coast. [1]
Winters on shallow lakes, wide slow rivers and coastal estuaries, especially near farm fields. [1]
How it behaves
Migrating flocks of up to 100 or more are made up of family groups; fall migration uses long flights between traditional staging areas. [1]
Dabbles, dips or up-ends in water for aquatic plants; on migration and in winter feeds heavily on waste corn, barley and soybeans in fields, sometimes on moonlit nights. [1]
Where it is listed for legal take
These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.
Where legal take is listed
- Alaska — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Alaska Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations
- Delaware — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide: Migratory Bird Seasons & Bag Limits
- Idaho — migratory bird hunting · Idaho Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 Seasons & Rules
- Montana — migratory bird hunting · 2026 Waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, Mourning Doves & Snipe Regulations
- Nevada — migratory bird hunting · Nevada 2026-2027 Small Game Hunting Regulations & Seasons (NDOW official guide, eRegulations-hosted)
- North Carolina — migratory bird hunting · Proclamation: 2026-2027 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons (NCWRC)
- North Dakota — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Small Game, Waterfowl and Furbearer Proclamation
- South Dakota — migratory bird hunting · 2026 South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook
- Utah — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Waterfowl, Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook
- Virginia — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Game Bird Regulations | Virginia DWR
Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.
Where it is found
Breeds on Arctic tundra of Alaska and northern Canada and migrates long distances to winter on both coasts and interior waters of the United States.
Sources
Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.
- BIOLOGICALTundra Swan | Audubon Field Guide
National Audubon Society · reviewed 2026-09-30
National Audubon Society