> My bird guide suggests that the distinguishing feature for Tundra Swans
>( versus Trumpeter) is that they hold their necks straight up, not curved.
> We had some discussion about whether this meant "in the water" or while
>walking too. The band walking on the marshy area by the Duckabush were not
>being as careful as to their form. Can others confirm? Thanks.
>
>Peter Henrickson

Both swans can hold their necks in a variety of ways. Very often
Trumpeters have a kink in the lower part of their neck, the base of the
neck laid back on the back, then a bend and the rest of the neck goes
straight up. The NGS guide shows this. I personally think that Tundra
Swans are more likely to hold their necks slightly curved than Trumpeters
are. I think you can use the "kinked-neck" of Trumpeters as a good field
mark but not anything else about neck position.

I think Trumpeters are more common on the Olympic Peninsula than Tundras,
but perhaps either species could occur where you saw them.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416
web site: http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/museum.html