Is that a Mute Swan or a Trumpeter Swan?

Michigan has two native swan species, the tundra swan and trumpeter swan. The mute swan, native to Europe and Asia, was introduced to north America in the mid 1800’s and to Michigan in 1919. Here’s how to tell the difference.

Native adult male swans, the tundra and trumpeter, have black bills, while the adult male mute swans have orange bills.Mute swans also have a distinct black knob on the top of the beak near the forehead. Mute swans are the more aggressive species.

 Orange Bill of the Mute Swan

Black Bill of the Trumpeter Swan