Trumpeter SwanThe trumpeter swan is the largest of the swan species. (Photo David A. Murray)

Many birds, within the same biological family, are very similar in characteristics, behaviors, and appearance, whereas other bird families are extremely diverse, and vary considerably from one another. One of the more diverse bird families is the family Anatidae, which is comprised of swans, geese, and ducks.

The family Anatidae consists of 150 different species worldwide and, with the exception of all members having webbed feet, there are considerable variations among these species. Two other characteristics that are common amongst these birds, yet not applicable to all members, is their habitat and bill structure.

The primary habitat for most of this family is that of an aquatic environment, although, members such as the geese are primarily terrestrial. As for the bill structure of many of the birds in this family, it is uniquely designed. Most of these birds have a bill with jagged or tooth-like ridges that interlock when the bill is closed. This acts as a strainer and allows the water to escape while the bird eats aquatic plants.

Let's take a closer look at the largest birds in the family Anatidae, the swans.

Swans are relatively easy to identify and there are a few good reasons for this. First, the large size of these birds makes them easy to observe. In addition, many people can identify swans due to their long necks. Another characteristic, although, less widely known, is that all adult swan species have white feathers.

There are four species of swans in the family Anatidae, the tundra swan, mute swan, whooper swan, and trumpeter swan. The whooper swan is predominantly found in the Aleutian Islands, while the mute swan, an Old World species, was introduced into the United States as an ornamental bird for ponds in city parks and other tourism locations. Both the tundra and trumpeter swans are the only wild swans actively breeding in North America.

Tundra and trumpeter swans are very similar and often difficult to distinguish from one another. There are two primary characteristics differing one species from the other. One of the characteristics of the tundra swan is a bright yellow spot on the bill located just in front of the eye. This yellow spot is usually present, but not always, and therefore a positive identification of this bird can be difficult. In cases where the yellow spot is absent, without close examination by an experienced bird watcher, the only sure identifying characteristic is the differing calls of these swans.

The swan pictured here is the trumpeter swan. This swan is usually the largest of all species with an overall length of about sixty-five inches, and an impressive wingspan of six to eight feet. The adult bird's feathers, as mentioned earlier, are all white. There is a distinctive black bill that extends into black facial skin, which tapers into a point at the bird's eyes.

The preferred habitat of the trumpeter swan is forest wetlands. This may be in the form of a lake, river, or marshland, surrounded by forest and dense vegetation. Using the surrounding vegetation the trumpeter swan constructs a six to twelve foot diameter nest in or at the edge of the water.

The range of this swan is variable, but growing due to reintroduction in many of its previous western habitats, which, in the past, had been lost due to over hunting and habitat loss. Today, trumpeters are found from Alaska southeast through Canada and into Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming.

One of the more challenging aspects in wildlife watching or photographing trumpeters is finding and approaching them. Once almost hunted to extinction, many of the birds will occupy large bodies of water and keep a safe distance from humans. Naturally, there are always exceptions, and locating areas with less timid birds can be beneficial. Finding these approachable swans and habitats is a key element, especially if your intention is to photograph the birds.

Of course, your longest telephoto lens is mandatory equipment; something in the 400, 500, or 600mm range should get the job done. A teleconverter for your telephoto lens will also be beneficial. For those unfamiliar with a teleconverter, this additional glass element attaches to your telephoto lens to increase its magnification. The amount of increase in magnification depends on the specific teleconverter. The point being, that you will need all the magnification you can muster for successful trumpeter swan photography.

When setting your exposure for subjects in water, always take your exposure reading away from the water to minimize the effect of light reflecting off the water. Without obtaining an exposure away from the water, the results will be unacceptable underexposed images.

Another tip is to slightly underexpose an all white subject, such as these swans. This will bring out the detail in the white feathers.

Swans are a challenge to photograph and a joy to observe. When it comes to birds, swans are the epitome of gracefulness and beauty as they glide across the water.

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