Today we had a delightful surprise, thanks to Amy from Oscoda. She spotted a swan gracefully navigating the icy waters along the Lake Huron shoreline and kindly shared some pictures with us. She was curious if the bird was a Tundra Swan, a species commonly seen migrating along Saginaw Bay, but it’s January which is unusual. So, we took a look at the images and started to puzzle over the swan’s identity.
Checking our reference books, we initially had some doubts about it being a Tundra. One identifying feature of the Tundra Swan is a hint of yellow or orange at the base of the beak, but the pictures showed an entirely black beak. This led us to believe that it might be a Trumpeter Swan, a slightly larger species which also has an all-black beak.
However, we then noticed something else – Tundra Swans have a slightly U-shaped beak-line between the eye and the beak base, which this icy-water swimmer seems to have. So, we’re still uncertain. We thought it would be fun to ask you what you think. Is it a Tundra or a Trumpeter Swan? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Check out this video for more information on identifying Trumpeter, Mute or Tundra Swans.
[Trumpeter, Mute or Tundra Identification Video](https://youtu.be/g0UR63ORJ88)
If you’ve spotted any interesting wildlife or scenic spots in the Upper Thumb or Saginaw Bay area and want to share them, feel free to drop us a line at contact@thumbwind.com.
For more on Trumpeter or Tundra Swans in Michigan, check out these related articles:
– [Tundra Swans Migration Through Michigan’s Thumb](https://thumbwind.com/2020/12/30/tundra-swans-migrate/)
– [Experience a Drone Flyby of Turnip Rock](https://thumbwind.com/2019/03/15/drone-flyby-turnip-rock/)
– [Sebewaing Cider and Jelly Factory was a Treat](https://thumbwind.com/2019/07/17/sebewaing-cider-and-jelly-factory-was-a-treat/)
– [Play on the Shore of a Michigan Beach](https://thumbwind.com/2018/05/24/thumb-michigan-beach/)
– [Plan a Day of Michigan Kayaking the Upper Thumb](https://thumbwind.com/2018/08/02/michigan-kayaking-upper-thumb/)
In summary, Amy from Oscoda shared some captivating images of a swan along the icy shoreline of Lake Huron. Initially, we thought it might be a Tundra Swan, but the all-black beak led us to believe it could be a Trumpeter. However, the slight U-shape beak-line, a characteristic of Tundra Swans, has left us unsure. We’re inviting you to weigh in on this swan’s identity – is it a Tundra or a Trumpeter?
#SwanIdentity #LakeHuronWildlife
See the original post at [Tundra or Trumpeter Swan Near Oscoda? – You Decide](https://thumbwind.com/2021/01/29/trumpeter-swan/).
