Swans Cleared for Takeoff

Trumpeter Swans Liftoff

Trumpeter Swans are the largest native waterfowl in North America, so it’s no surprise they need a long stretch of open water to taxi and take off. They typically bob their heads and honk a bit before they’re ready to go, and these two swans in McHenry County, Illinois were no exception in early March as I watched them gather at the north end of the lake to launch into the south wind.

Once they decided it was time, they bowed their necks into an S-shape, pushed themselves up, and began flapping their wings while slapping their feet against the water to drive themselves forward. After building enough speed—around 13 mph, where lift cancels gravity altogether—they tucked their feet beneath their tails and were airborne. This image captures the trumpeters on their final slaps of the water just before entering full flight mode, gliding low across the surface before gaining altitude and banking into the evening sun.

Built for a powerful takeoff

Trumpeter Swans are impressively large, with males averaging over 26 pounds, making them North America’s heaviest flying bird. To get that much mass aloft, they need at least a 100-meter “runway” of open water, running hard across the surface and sounding almost like galloping horses as they generate the speed needed for takeoff. (Source: All About Birds)

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