Bird
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
Photo: The Cosmonaut, CC BY-SA 2.5 ca
Common Names
Swan / Large Swan
Habitat
Freshwater marshes, lakes, and large rivers
First Observed
1804-02-15
Observed At
Wood River Camp, near present-day Hartford, Illinois
Lewis and Clark observed trumpeter swans at multiple points during the expedition. Large flocks were first noted in marshes near their winter camp at Wood River, Illinois, on February 15, 1804, before the main expedition departed. They later encountered the species along the Missouri River. Their observations were among the first to distinguish the trumpeter swan from the smaller tundra swan. The trumpeter swan is the largest native waterfowl species in North America.
Journal Excerpt
Clark, November 1, 1804: "Swans passing from N. to S…. a great number of Swans in a pond to the N.E. Saw Swans and other birds today; the Swans were in greater numbers than I had ever seen before."
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Trumpeter Swan
Nov
2
1805
Clark: November 2, 1805
...Saw great numbers of waterfowl of
Different kinds, Such as Swan, Geese, white & grey brants, ducks of
various kinds, Guls, & Pleaver. Labeach killed 14 brantjosep...
Nov
3
1805
Clark: November 3, 1805
... emence
numbers of fowls flying in every direction Such as Swan, geese, Brants,
Cranes, Stalks, white guls, comerants & plevers &c. also great
numbers of Sea Ott...
Nov
21
1805
Clark: November 21, 1805
...nt passing Southerley, the white yet
Stationary, no gees & Swan to be Seen. The wind blew hard from the S.
E. which with the addition of the flood tide raised eme...
Nov
26
1805
Clark: November 26, 1805
... a place of deposit for the dead in Canoes
Great numbers of Swan Geese Brant Ducks & Gulls in this great bend
which is Crouded with low Islands covered with weeds ...
Nov
28
1805
Clark: November 28, 1805
...e thick woods to the main South Side without Suckcess, the
Swan & gees wild and Cannot be approached, and wind to high to go
either back or forward, and we have n...
Jan
2
1806
Clark: January 2, 1806
...ureing our
residence here. The large, & Small or whistling Swan, Sand hill crane,
large & Small Gees, brown and white brant, Comorant, Duckanmallard,
canvis back...
Jan
2
1806
Lewis: January 2, 1806
...ring our residence
here. The large, and small or whistling swan, sand hill Crane, large and
small gees, brown and white brant, Cormorant, duckan mallard, Canvisba...
Jan
15
1806
Clark: January 15, 1806
...ngth and is formed of light white pine rather larger than a Swans quill,
in the lower extremity of this is a Circular mortice Secured by Sinues
raped around it; t...
Jan
15
1806
Lewis: January 15, 1806
...th and is formed of light white pine reather
larger than a swan's quill, in the lower extremity of this is a circular
mortice secured by sinues roled arround it; ...
Mar
5
1806
Clark: March 5, 1806
...nd the brown brant, Small
and large Geese, small and large Swans, the Duckinmallard, canvis back
Duck, red headed fishing Duck, black and white duck, little brown...
Mar
6
1806
Lewis: March 6, 1806
...nd the brown
brant, small and large geese, small and large Swan, the Duckinmallard,
canvis back duck, red headed fishing duck, black and white duck, little
brown...
Mar
8
1806
Clark: March 8, 1806
... in vast quantities dureing the winter. they feed
like the Swan Goose &c. on the grass and roots & Seeds which they
find in the marshes this bird is a little larg...
Mar
8
1806
Lewis: March 8, 1806
...n in vast quantities during
the winter. they feed like the swan gees &c on the grass roots and
seeds which they find in the marshes. this bird is about the size o...
Mar
9
1806
Clark: March 9, 1806
...rs, and
various articles which we wish kept Dry.
The large Swan is precisely the Same Common to the Missouri, Mississippi
and the Atlantic States &c. The Small Sw...
Mar
9
1806
Lewis: March 9, 1806
...me sacks of Elk skin to contain various articles. The large Swan is
precisely the same common to the Atlantic States. the small swan differs
only from the larger ...
