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Tundra "Whistling" Swan Stretching For me, this was a simple and relaxing pastel pencil sketch on black paper but the result was an accurate, well rendered, and appealing image. The Tundra Swan, Cygnus columbianus, is a small swan with populations that are genetically distinctive throughout the Arctic region; some scientists split the species into two subspecies. The Whistling Swan, Cygnus columbianus columbianus, is found in the Nearctic Ecozone (most of North America, including Greenland and the highlands of Mexico) while Cygnus columbianus bewickii is unique to the Palearctic (Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula). Whistling swans breed in the Canadian North in the tundra areas of Hudson's Bay west to Alaska and winters in the Chesapeake Bay marshes of the United States. "Whistling swan" refers to the sound made by the slow, powerful beating of the wings in flight, and not to the voice of the bird. Contrary to its common name, the ground calls of this swan are not a whistle but a high-pitched honking call similar to a Canada goose. It is an all white swan, with black feet and a black bill that has a small yellow spot at the base of the upper mandible. The original pastel pencil is in a private collection but limited edition prints and note cards are available. Click here for availability and price.