What does the Tundra Swan eat?

The Tundra Swan's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Herbivore

How it forages

Primarily herbivorous, feeding on aquatic vegetation such as pondweeds, sedges, rushes, and tubers, which they obtain by dabbling or upending in shallow water. They also graze on grasses and waste grains (corn, rice) in agricultural fields during migration and winter. Invertebrates are occasionally consumed, especially by cygnets.

When it feeds

Diurnal, actively feeding and moving during daylight hours. They may also feed at night, especially during full moons or in areas with artificial light.

Explore the Tundra Swan