Got some pretty decent photos of a large group of Trumpeter Swan (
Cygnus buccinator) today in clouds and sunshine. Several were juvenile/immature. Note the sooty gray body coloration (top photo, clouded conditions) and especially the bill color...black color for the base and bill fringe with pink coloration for the balance (middle and bottom pics in sunshine). Matches up very well with the plates in The Sibley Guide.
The experience was a reminder again of the importance of light in identification. Though Tundra Swan (
Cygnus columbianus) does not typically flock with Trumpeters, lone birds can be a bear without good looks and lighting.
As always, get outside and find something good :-)
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