Scientific Name:
Cygnus atratus
Distribution
Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand
Diet:
Herbivore - aquatic plants and algae
Facts
Habitat: big lakes, lagoons, wetlands, rivers and sometimes along the coasts.
Incubation: 35-48 days / 5-7 eggs
Social structure: pairs or colonies (2 - thousands individuals)
Weight: male max: 8.7kg, female max: 7.2kg
Dimensions: max 140cm, wing span: max 2m
Lifespan: 40
Estimated population in the wild: 100,000-1,000,000
Threats: there are no substantial threats for this species.
IUCN Status: least concern
Did you know that:
- It is the only swan in which male participates in incubation, permitting female to save energy, in order to breed again more quickly.
- While the black swan has mostly black plumage, its outer primary and secondary feathers are white.
- During the annual moult after the breeding season, the white wing feathers are shed, leaving the black swan unable to fly for about a month.
- Like other swans it is largely monogamous, usually pairing for life. If one bird of the pair dies, the other will usually not attempt to find another mate.
- The black swan is the state emblem of Western Australia, and appears on the state flag