Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Least Concern
Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
Taxonomy
French: Cygne noir German: Schwarzschwan Spanish: Cisne negro
Taxonomy:
Anas atrata
Latham
, 1790,lakes of Australia
.Distribution:
Australia and Tasmania; introduced and well established in New Zealand.
Introduced in many parts of the world in ornamental wildfowl collections, where interbreeding with local anseriforms not uncommon.
Descriptive notes
110–140 cm; male 3800–8750 g, female 3700–7200 g; wingspan 160–200 cm. Unmistakable. Alula, primaries and outer secondaries white, though normally... read more
Voice
Adults give soft, musical and high-pitched bugling notes, both in flight and on water, presumably... read more
Habitat
Favours large lakes or lagoons of relatively shallow, permanent and fresh or brackish waters,... read more
Food and feeding
Almost entirely vegetarian diet, consisting of leaves and shoots of various aquatic plants (Typha, Potamogeton, ... read more
Breeding
Season variable with locality, normally adapted to period of highest water levels: late May–Aug in Western Australia, Aug–Oct... read more
Movements
Sedentary in permanent suitable habitat, but congregates on permanent waterbodies during drought... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Protected both by law and sentiment in Australia. Widespread and locally very common in both Australia and New Zealand. May have... read more
Sometimes placed in monospecific genus Chenopis. Apparently most closely related to C. melancoryphus and C. olor. Hybridization with C. olor, and with several species of Anser geese, has been reported in captivity. Monotypic.