ML610820339
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
I got better pictures today of this continuing pair of swans and I can't call them anything but Trumpeter, despite the local consensus seeming to be that they are black-billed Tundra Swans. The long bill that has a straight culmen, the black in front of the eye is wide, the line from the eye to the gape is mostly straight - all features point toward Trumpeter. The line between the forehead and bill from above is variable when the birds are feeding, but shows as pointed more than rounded. I've shown photos to multiple western birders with plenty of Trumpeter and Tundra experience and they all think these are fine for Trumpeter, as do I. Although I did not get a recording, I heard these birds twice (when someone walked their dog too close) - deep soft single grunts. It wasn't the full normal call for either species but matched in tone better for Trumpeter. I'm not sure if Tundra gives the same notes.
Technical information
- Model
- DC-FZ80
- ISO
- 80
- Focal length
- 215 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire
- f-stop
- f/5.9
- Shutter speed
- 1/500 sec
- Dimensions
- 4896 pixels x 3672 pixels
- Original file size
- 9.67 MB