Trumpeters usually occur in family groups of 3-5 birds, but during
migrations they may number as many as 50 or so. Adult has an all black
bill, while the immatures usually have some pinkish color to the bill.

Tundra swan are slightly smaller, but adults have a yellow spot in front
of the eye, may be variable. Immatures have a grayish spot although some
have a yellowish bill.

Best identification is the voice. Trumpeter has a vociferous or sonorous
sound. Tundra has a higher pitched call sort of like wow-wow. If you
crowd them a bit and they get nervous, Trumpeters make a low nervous
sound.

We had both species at Malheur, Tule lake-Lower Klamath and Sacramento
N.W. Refuges. Both occur in the fall in the Skagit Flats near Mt.
Vernon. As the refuge biologist on all three refuges in the 50's and
early 60's. I banded 203 Tundras (color dyeing 190) at Malheur the fall
of l961 and the spring of 1962 to determine migrations south in the fall
and migrations north during the spring. Got a lot of reports of my dyed
swans from various conservation agencies. Interesting that Malheur
Tundras nested at MacKenzie Lake in the Yukon AND also at the Kuskokwim
Delta of Alaska. . Took a lot of measurements plus notes on color of
bills.Things got lively in a trap with splashing flapping swans in ice
cold water at that time of the year. But then, all wildlife biologists
do is look at birds through binocs, right?

We had a resident flock of 25-30 trumpeters at Malheur. One time I got
too close to one's nest, and the male headed right at me, but when it
was 5-6 feet away from me, I grabbed a handful of sago pondweed and
threw it at him. He turned away. Heck, I was in mud and water over my
hip boots, and I didn't want to tangle with him under these conditions.

Re the Mute Swan. Bill is orange excet for a black base that extends to
a fleshy knob on the forehead. Usually swims with its neck in a graceful
S-shape. Bill pointing down. Voice a hiss or a snort. Immature grayish
brown with white breast and belly. The Mute is usually pictured as The
Swan.

Gene Kridler
Sequim, Wa.