Tundra Swan (Whistling Swan)

A large, all-white swan with a black bill usually featuring a small yellow spot near the eye. They have a wingspan of about 168 cm (66 inches) and are known for their high-pitched, bugling calls.

Pure white throughout both dorsal and ventral surfaces; lacks melanin-based pigments. The rachis is also white, which is a classic trait of adult swans.

Pennaceous structure at the top with interlocked barbs; significant plumulaceous (downy) structure at the base for insulation; barbs appear worn at the distal end.

Thick, sturdy white rachis, slightly curved to accommodate the wing's airfoil shape. Barb density is high, typical of aquatic birds requiring wind resistance.

Smooth and somewhat stiff on the pennaceous vane; oily and water-resistant texture characteristic of waterfowl; high-gloss white appearance when clean.

Wing; specifically a secondary feather located on the inner wing, providing lift during flight.

Pure white color, large size, broad width of the vane, and a thick white calamus (quill).

Arctic tundra during breeding season; large lakes, bays, estuaries, and flooded agricultural fields during migration and winter.

Breeds in the Arctic; migrates across North America to winter on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as parts of the interior US.

Herbivorous consumer; they play a role in aquatic plant management and serve as high-protein prey for large predators in the Arctic.

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) feathers are larger; Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) feathers are smaller and usually have black tips on primaries.

Tundra Swans can fly at altitudes of over 25,000 feet during migration and travel thousands of miles between their breeding and wintering grounds.

Swan feathers were historically used for high-quality quill pens and in the millinery trade; they hold significant symbolic value in various cultures representing purity and grace.

Look for these feathers along shorelines of large lakes or in agricultural fields where swans forage during late autumn or early spring.

Fair to Good; the tip shows significant fraying and 'vane-splitting' which suggests it was a naturally molted feather at the end of its life cycle.

Corby