Artic Tundra Swans ( Cygnus columbianus). Also known as Whistling Swans.
STATS:
Length: 47.2 to 57.9 in (120 to 147 cm)
Wingspan: 66 in (168 cm)
Weight: 13 to 20 pounds (5.89 to 9.07 kg)
Life Span in the wild – 25 years ?
There are around 100,000 Tundra Swans that migrate to the eastern US, of which around 70,000 over winter in North Carolina. The remaining swans are generally found in and around the Chesapeake Bay.
Cool USGS tracking map that shows migration patterns.
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/argos-wildlife-tracking-tundra-swan
Main groups arrive Eastern North Carolina in late November into December and generally departs in March.
3000 miles (4800 kilometers) from Artic Circle to North Carolina
Cygnets change color from gray to white while over wintering in the Southeastern US.
Cygnets make their first flight south from the Arctic, at around 4-5 months old and from what I can tell, stay with the parents during the over wintering time.
The Tundra swans are territorial. But also, they seem to like to fight. The challenges generally start with a pair stretching their necks out, toward another swan or pair of swans, and calling loudly. This may be met with the other pair stretching their necks out and calling back. The dueling groups approach each other and look like they’re all singing together with their heads raised in the air, very close to each other. The honking gets louder and louder, while the group works itself into a frenzy. Typically, at this point, one or the other group will back down, or the cobs will start flapping their wings and biting each other. The juveniles may join in with the calling/honking and wing flapping, but I haven’t seen them attack other swans. The duels generally last only a few seconds but I have seen swans continue to fight for 20 seconds or so, or breakoff and then resume fighting again.