57 to 59 inches long with a wingspan of 80 inches. The Trumpeter Swan is the largest native waterfowl in the US weighing up to 25 pounds. The plumage is all white. Especially note the wings that do not have any black on them. The neck is very long and graceful. The bill is black and slopes gradually down from the forehead.
The Trumpeter Swan is now a regular winter visitor to the Omaha area, especially at Carter Lake. In January and February you might be fortunate to see a small flock of these birds flying over the forest.
Trumpeter Swans once nested over most of North America. They disappeared as with the westward expansion of civilization so that by the 1930’s less than 100 existed south of the Canada border. Restoration and protection efforts have been very successful in this species with its population rebounding significantly. They inhabit lakes, ponds and large rivers, favoring shallow freshwater ponds with lots of vegetation. The Trumpeter Swan is named after its distinctive bugling call.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Phil Swanson.