The tundra swan breeds on the high tundra across the top of North America, but migrates each winter along both coasts. On the east coast they migrate along the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey southward to South Carolina. During the breeding season the tundra swan sleeps almost entirely on land, but in the winter it sleeps more often on water.

They have a wingspan of over five feet and are a fairly large waterfowl. The overall color is white with a black bill and face. The identifying features are a long straight neck and a u-shaped indentation of white forehead into the bill and a rounded head.

When the tundra swan is at rest, the neck is straight, with a much slighter S-curve than the neck of the non-native mute swan.
Common foods consist of aquatic plants, seeds, tubers, grains, some mollusks and anthropods. During the winter their prime habitat is near shallow estuaries, lakes, ponds, rivers, and they also feed in agricultural fields.