An unusual occurrence at Presque Isle State Park last Sunday, with 3 species of swan concurrently at the head of Presque Isle Bay: Tundra Swan, Mute Swan, and Trumpeter Swan.
Swan ID (adult): All are large, white birds, with Trumpeter Swan the largest and Tundra Swan the smallest. Mute Swan has a distinctive orange bill with a black knob at the base. Tundra Swan has a narrow line of black from bill to eye, frequently with a yellow patch. Trumpeter Swan lacks the yellow, and the black portion between bill and eye is much wider and may lack any narrowing. In Tundra Swan, the black between the eyes is typically straight or only slightly curved, in Trumpeter Swan it is more of a “V.” All three have distinctive vocalizations.
Following shots, the birds in flight are all Tundra Swan, & single swan in water = Trumpeter Swan unless noted otherwise:
