Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus buccinator

SSP Coordinator:

Tiffany R Mayo, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Vice Coordinator:

Mindy Rabideau, Tracy Aviary 

The trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is the largest native waterfowl species in North America and is currently classified as Least Concern in the wild, following a successful recovery from near extinction in the early 20th century. It inhabits freshwater wetlands, including lakes, ponds, marshes, slow-moving rivers, and coastal estuaries, favoring large, shallow water bodies with abundant vegetation. Trumpeter swans are herbivorous, feeding primarily on submerged and emergent aquatic plants, roots, tubers, and grasses, and they may also graze on land near water. Continued habitat protection and management have been key to maintaining stable populations, though the species remains sensitive to habitat loss, human disturbance, and environmental pollution.