If you’ve ever walked by New York City’s East River, you may have noticed some swans gracefully gliding across the water. Those birds would have been mute swans, recognizable by their bright orange beaks.
But the other day, a group of bird-watchers noticed one swan out on the river who looked different from the others. This bird had a completely black beak and straight neck. They quickly realized that the animal wasn’t a mute swan, but rather a trumpeter swan.
The bird-watchers’ sighting marks the very first time a trumpeter swan has ever been seen in New York City. The rare bird’s unexpected visit has been delighting the city’s residents.
“The trumpeter’s call hasn’t been heard in these parts in centuries, if ever,” Greenland Research Station wrote on Instagram.
While mute swans are a European species, introduced to New York in the late 1800s, trumpeter swans are actually native to the continent. They’re typically found in colder areas like Alaska, Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
“Trumpeter Swans are the largest native waterfowl in North America, which makes seeing one here in NYC especially exciting,” Dennis Newsham wrote on Instagram.
For the past couple of days, the newcomer to the city has been getting a warm welcome from its locals. Dozens of New Yorkers have made their way over to the East River to catch a glimpse of the beautiful swan.
It appears that the bird has even made fast friends with one of the river’s mute swans. The visitor had been inseparable from a local swan bird-watchers have nicknamed William after the Williamsburg neighborhood.
“William has found his Kate,” @alwaysbebirdin wrote on Instagram.
As for how and why the trumpeter swan found themselves in New York, no one can know for sure. But experts have guessed that the adolescent bird was simply exploring the area, noticed the other swans in the river, and decided to stop and hang out with them.
As exciting as it is to have such a gorgeous new bird in the city, it’s important for New Yorkers to keep in mind that the visitor is still a wild animal who needs respect. Make sure to avoid feeding the trumpeter swan and maintain a safe distance from the animal. That way, the bird can stay safe and everyone can keep enjoying their presence.
“We hope it sticks around,” @avantbirde wrote on Instagram.
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