Bird Watching: Wintering Trumpeter Swans, 1 by reddirtretiree

reddirtretiree wrote:
The stained heads are of interest to me. They indicate the birds are from lakes rich in iron. Gives some clue where they summer. Maybe MN or MI. I wouldn't think they are IA birds.

They are magnificent birds. Huge, yet elegant. Intelligent. And most surprising to me is that they can fly 60 mph or faster with a tailwind. I am amazed that a bird that hardly ever exercises it's wings can fly so fast and so far when they feel the need.

Saw another sighting in the Wichita Mtns of SW OK this week. I wouldn't be surprised to see some TX sightings in the next few years.

We were fortunate to see a couple of Tundra Swans with 3 Trumpeters on 01 Jan. near Okemah, OK. Educational to see the two side by side. The tundras are smaller, necks not quite as long and bill shape is different. A pic of them together. The far left and far right birds are tundras.