Changes in Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) Activities from Winter to Spring in the Greater Yellowstone Area
Squires JR and Anderson SH. 1997. Changes in Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) Activities from Winter to Spring in the Greater Yellowstone Area. The American Midland Naturalist. 138(1):208-214
Trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator), in winter, primarily, slept 42% of the time, fed 30%, swam 12%; and preened 7%. Comparisons of swan activities among diel periods during the winter indicated they increased feeding throughout the day into night, when then fed at their highest rate. Swans spent more time sleeping as winter temperatures decreased; feeding mostly ceased when temperatures fell below approximately -17C. Dominant activities in spring included feeding (45%), sleeping (17%), swimming (13%); and preening (12%). During spring, swans fed at a high rate throughout the day and night, suggesting that spring use-areas may be important to swans depositing endogenous reserves before nesting.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Squires, John; Anderson, Stanley
- Units
- YELL
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Birds, Spring (Season), Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator), Winter