The Ongoing Triumph of the Trumpeter Swan North America has
three species of wild swans: the Trumpeter, the Tundra, and the
Mute Swan. It might be surprising to learn, but it can actually
be pretty difficult to tell the first two apart. The Trumpeter
Swan, named for its trumpet-like call, is the largest and sports
a red line on its mandible. The Tundra Swan is the smallest,
with a honking call and a yellow spot in front of its eye. Both
have black bills and a white face, which only adds to the
confusion! The Mute Swan has an orange bill, a black face and
grunts, snorts or hisses to communicate. Elegant and beautiful,
the Trumpeter and Tundra Swans are welcome sights. The same,
unfortunately, cannot be said of the Mute Swan, which has
recently become a bit of a problem. While Trumpeter Swans were
nearly exterminated at the start of the 20th century, Mute Swans
were brought over by European settlers, where they were kept as
pets or in zoos, parks and on private estates. However, many
Mute Swans escaped or were