Trumpeter Swan song and calls

Birdsong and calls are often the easiest way to identify the Trumpeter Swan, especially when the bird is hidden in dense foliage. Below is what to listen for.

Song

Does not have a complex song. Its vocalizations are primarily calls.

Calls

Distinctive, deep, resonant, low-pitched 'oh-OH' or 'ko-HO' call, often described as a trumpet-like bugle. It is louder and more sonorous than the higher-pitched, more nasal call of the Tundra Swan. Calls can be heard over long distances.

When they vocalize

Vocalizes year-round, but calls are particularly frequent during courtship, territorial disputes, and when communicating within flocks, especially during migration.

Explore the Trumpeter Swan