Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Julie on December 28, 2006, 10:07:00 PM

Title: RFI swan
Post by: Julie on December 28, 2006, 10:07:00 PM

hi all

My partner's quick eyes spotted a different swan amongst the three mutes at the mouth of the Rouge this Tuesday. Light was poor and the bird was travelling away from us, but a distant side view showed a neck proportionately shorter than a mute's, roughly the same body size and shape, black legs, and a bill that was smooth, more delicate, and black, with what looked to be a fine black line leading up to and slightly through the eye. White all over (top of neck slightly greyish so perhaps a first year?), no wing tag in sight but that may have been the angle. Trumpeter or tundra? Or other?

thanks and Merry Christmas all

Julie

Title: Sounds Like A Trumpeter
Post by: BIGFRANK on December 29, 2006, 05:18:55 AM

Hi Julie..sounds like a Trumpeter. Your description "what looked to be a fine black line leading up to and slightly through the eye." says Trumpeter to me. The slight greyish,which as U thought could mean first year bird,would explain why there would be no tag. Not all of them have the tags. I saw 6 floating along the lake east to west towards Ashbridges Bay,from my usual spot much ealier this month. 4 were adult,2 were juvenile and none had tags. Always a good sighting. That said,the way this "winter" has been so far though,it isnt out of the question that it could be a Tundra Swan.

Title: Trumpeter
Post by: Al Johnston on December 29, 2006, 03:18:43 PM

I agree with Big Frank, Julie. Al