tundra swan

Thân thiện

A tundra swan glides gracefully across a calm northern lake.

Definition

Noun: A species of swan (Cygnus columbianus) that breeds in the Arctic tundra regions of both the New World (North America) and the Old World (Eurasia). It is a migratory bird known for its pure white plumage and black bill, often with a small yellow spot near the eye.

Usage

The term "tundra swan" is used to specifically identify this species of swan, distinguishing it from other swans like the mute swan or trumpeter swan. It is used in both scientific and general contexts when discussing wildlife, birdwatching, or migration patterns. - The tundra swan population migrates thousands of miles between its Arctic breeding grounds and wintering areas. - We spotted a flock of tundra swans resting on the lake during their spring migration.

Advanced Usage

• "Bewick's swan" and "whistling swan": Historically, the tundra swan was divided into two subspecies: the Eurasian Bewick's swan () and the North American whistling swan (). In modern taxonomy, they are often considered a single species, the tundra swan.
  • The Bewick's swan, a subspecies of the tundra swan, is named after the engraver Thomas Bewick.

Variants and Related Words

• Whistling swan (n): An older common name for the North American population of the tundra swan, referring to the sound of its wings in flight.
• Bewick's swan (n): An older common name for the Eurasian population of the tundra swan.

Synonyms

• Cygnus columbianus (n): The scientific binomial name for the tundra swan.

Học thuật

Noun

1. swan that nests in tundra regions of the New and Old Worlds

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cygnus columbianus