Tundra or Trumpeter, Toronto (1 Viewer)

[Eildert]

Hello,
I photographed this presumable Tundra Swan (yellow spot on bill) in Toronto the other day. However, the bird also seems to have some characteristics of a Trumpeter. What are your opinions? Thanks in advance!

 

[mummymonkey]

Distinct eye, yellow spot on lores and slightly concave bill/head profile all say tundra?

 

[Eildert]

Thanks, Mummymonkey (feels weird writing that...),
I had it down as one, but did want some second opinions.

 

[mummymonkey]

Neither are species I have field experience with so good to wait for more views. What are the characters that you were thinking of for trumpeter?

 

[Eildert]

Didn't see a clear angle to the black of the bill underneath the eye, and the bill actually seemed less concave than I expected.

 

[Eildert]

Also, I should mention that Trumpeter is very common here (after having been reintroduced to the area) and Tundra much scarcer.

 

[birdmeister]

Tundra for me, too. Trumpeter should never show a yellow loral spot, so that is the biggest mark here. Often the most consistent field mark is seen when the bird is head-on, in which the border where the bill meets the face is V-shaped in Trumpeter but roundly U-shaped in Tundra.

 

[Microtus]

I agree, Tundra Swan.