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Discover the Whimsical World of Trumpeter Swans: Top 8 Fun Facts You Never Knew!

illustration of trumpeter-swans
Dive into the fascinating world of trumpeter swans, where elegance meets quirkiness and surprises await at every flap of their wings!

1. Swan High School Sweethearts

In the bird world, trumpeter swans are basically high school sweethearts who never break up, pick out their love nest with a waterfront view, and engage in home improvements on the regular: Trumpeter swans form life-long partnerships at around three years old, with the male gathering marsh plants to build and maintain their nest, which can be up to 12 feet in diameter and last for several years.
Source => fws.gov

2. Brass Band Boasting

If trumpeter swans were part of a brass band, they'd be the ones boasting about their majestic solos and making the rest of the band jealous: In reality, their unmistakable trumpet bugle calls can be heard from up to 2 miles away in mountain regions, outplaying the high-pitched calls of their Tundra Swan cousins – who probably just stick to the flute section.
Source => trumpeterswansociety.org

3. Skyborne Symphony

Move over, trumpets and trombones: the real brass section is taking flight! Trumpeter swans are nature's skyborne symphony, delightfully honking their way into our hearts and eardrums from quite impressive distances: These feathered musicians can be heard up to three miles away thanks to the windpipe's vibrating membranes, making their honks a distinctive form of communication amongst mates and a clever way to warn others of impending danger.
Source => trumpeterswansociety.org

4. Neck-and-Neck Beauty Pageant

It's a real "neck and neck" competition when it comes to distinguishing Trumpeter Swans from the rest of their feathered friends – but they've managed to stick their necks out in one unique way: When at rest, the Trumpeter Swan's majestic neck remains impeccably straight, while other swans tend to curve their necks like some kind of avian question mark. Plus, their bills boast an eye-catching black shade that connects to their eye area, setting them apart in the swans' beauty pageant!
Source => citizen-times.com

Feathery Speed Demons

5. Feathery Speed Demons

Whoever said "size matters" clearly never met a Trumpeter Swan: these massive, feathery speed demons can actually fly at blistering speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, and have been known to zip through the sky for up to 4,000 miles during their great migratory journeys.
Source => allaboutbirds.org

6. Veggie Lovers Unite!

Whoever said vegetables were boring never met a Trumpeter Swan: these expert underwater foragers use their long necks and massive webbed feet to twist aquatic vegetation from lake and river beds, enjoying a mostly vegetarian diet that includes the occasional small fish, fish eggs, and when winter strikes, berries and grain crops.
Source => allaboutbirds.org

7. Buffet-bound Birds

Did you hear the one about the trumpeter swan who walked into a buffet? It turns out they're experts at meal prep for long journeys: Trumpeter swans spend around 48.6% of their time foraging at spring-migration stopover areas, stocking up on crucial reserves for their grand migration and eventual breeding adventures.
Source => researchgate.net

8. Avian Daredevils

Hold on to your feathers and buckle up, folks, for these avian speed demons make even the boldest pilots green with envy: Trumpeter swans can reach blazing speeds of up to 50 miles per hour and soar to dizzying heights of 8,000 feet or more, while migrating jaw-dropping distances of up to 4,000 miles each way!
Source => fws.gov

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