Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

The Tundra Swan breeds on the high Arctic tundra across the top of North America. They spend winters in large flocks along both coasts. Asia hosts a population of these birds as well, and like their North American cousins, they nest at the highest latitudes there, and fly south to spend their winters.

Once the Asian version of the Tundra Swan was believed to be its own species, the Bewick’s Swan, but in 1983 researchers merged the two groups into the same species. Today, taxonomists recognise two subspecies of Tundra Swan:

• C. c. columbianus breeds in the Arctic North American tundra and northeastern Siberia. They spend winters in the western USA, the mid-Atlantic coast of the eastern USA, and northern Mexico.
• C. c. bewickii breeds throughout Arctic Siberia, and spends winters in western Europe, the Caspian Sea, eastern China, Korea and Japan.

I long for up-close and personal meetings with Tundra Swans. When I’ve met them at their winter retreats, I’ve found them rather shy. Maybe one day my fortunes will change, and I’ll meet them where they won’t be as skittish. Perhaps I could even visit them on their breeding grounds.

7 Photos

Tundra Swan

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

Tundra Swan

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

Tundra Swan

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

Tundra Swan

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

Tundra Swan

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

Tundra Swan

In flight over Lower Klamath Falls NWR. Northern California, on the Oregon border.

Tundra Swan

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

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Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

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Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

Read More

Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

Read More

Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

Read More

Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

Read More

Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

In flight over Lower Klamath Falls NWR. Northern California, on the Oregon border.

Read More

Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

By the roadside of Highway 99, south of Yuba City, California.

Read More