Tundra Swan Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesTundra Swan
Adult (Whistling)
Very large and entirely white with a long neck, with black bill showing a small yellow spot on the black facial skin in front of the eye.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 12, 2013Adult (Bewick's)
Very large and entirely white with a long neck, with black bill showing yellow at the base, and black legs. "Bewick's" is the Eurasian form.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryIshikawa, December 19, 2013Adult (Whistling)
Yellow at base of bill is often hard to see and sometimes is absent. Note curved, not pointed, line above the eyes where bill meets forehead.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, March 07, 2015Not all videos have sound
Juvenile (Whistling)
Older juveniles are pale dusky-brown with extensive white highlights, and a mostly pink bill with black tip and base.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, November 11, 2020Adult (Whistling)
Flies with neck outstretched. Entirely white with black legs and variable amount of yellow on the base of black bill.
© Darlene Friedman / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, March 25, 2019Juvenile (Whistling)
Young juveniles are fluffy, entirely grayish white, with a pale bill.
© Alvan Buckley / Macaulay LibraryNorthwest Territories, July 10, 2013Adult (Whistling)
Some birds have very little or no yellow at the base of the bill. Extent of facial skin connecting bill to eye variable, but usually not extensive.
© Jody Wells / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, February 06, 2017Adult (Bewick's)
"Bewick's," the Eurasian form, has extensive yellow at the base of the bill.
© Thomas Gibson / Macaulay LibraryEngland, November 19, 2016Adult (Whistling)
Flies with neck outstretched. Entirely white with black legs and variable amount of yellow on the base of black bill.
© Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay LibraryColorado, January 31, 2017Habitat
Often occurs in flocks on ponds, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and bays.
© Karol Pasquinelli / Macaulay LibraryPennsylvania, March 12, 2017Similar SpeciesMute Swan
Adult
Mute Swans are larger than Tundra Swans with an orange bill.
© Jack Bushong / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, March 26, 2017Similar SpeciesMute Swan
Immature
Mute Swans are larger than Tundra Swans with a pinkish-gray bill that is black (not pink) at the base.
© Oliver Burton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 09, 2017Similar SpeciesTrumpeter Swan
Adult
Trumpeter Swans are larger than Tundra Swans. The area where the bill meets the head is V-shaped on Trumpeter Swans, but U-shaped on Tundra Swans.
© Steve Percival / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, August 23, 2015Similar SpeciesTrumpeter Swan
Juvenile
Trumpeter Swans are larger than Tundra Swans. Juveniles have a pinkish bill that is black at the base, but it is pink at the base on Tundra Swans.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, October 20, 2013Similar SpeciesSnow Goose
Adult white morph
Snow Geese are smaller than Tundra Swans with a small pink bill.
© Nell Moore / Macaulay LibraryTennessee, December 23, 2010Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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