Outer Banks: Tundra Swans

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bodie island, outer banks, photography, postaday, tundra swans

Tundra Swans summer near the Artic Circle, but in the fall and winter they migrate to the East and West coasts of the United States. They are also called whistling swans to differentiate them from trumpeter swans which look very similar but produce a more nasal honking sound.

I found a flock of Tundra Swans near the Bodie Island lighthouse in the Outer Banks. They appeared mostly peaceful, mingling easily with wigeons. Their necks were shorter than those of mute swans, but they were still very graceful.

Tundra Swans at Bodie Island

Tundra Swan and wigeons

There were the usual territorial or mate quarrels, as you can see in the following two shots.

Tundra Swans

Tundra Swans