Black Swan - Australian Museum

ANIMAL SPECIES:Black Swan

The Black Swan is the only entirely black-coloured swan in the world

Identification

In adult Black Swans the body is mostly black, with the exception of the broad white wing tips which are visible in flight. The bill is a deep orange-red, paler at the tip, with a distinct narrow white band towards the end. Younger birds are much greyer in colour, and have black wing tips. Adult females are smaller than the males.

Size range

120 cm to 142 cm

Distribution

Black Swans are found throughout Australia with the exception of Cape York Peninsula, and are more common in the south. The Black Swan has been introduced into several countries, including New Zealand, where it is now common, and is a vagrant to New Guinea.

Habitat

Black Swans prefer larger salt, brackish or fresh waterways and permanent wetlands, requiring 40 m or more of clear water to take off. Outside the breeding season, Black Swans travel quite large distances. Birds fly at night and rest during the day with other swans.

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

The Black Swan is a vegetarian. Food consists of algae and weeds, which the bird obtains by plunging its long neck into water up to 1 m deep. Occasionally birds will graze on land, but they are clumsy walkers.

Life cycle

Black Swans form isolated pairs or small colonies in shallow wetlands. They pair for life, with both adults raising one brood per season. Eggs are laid in an untidy nest made of reeds and grasses. The nest is placed either on a small island or floated in deeper water. The chicks (cygnets) are covered in grey down and are able to swim and feed themselves as soon as they hatch.

Breeding season: February to May in the north; June to September in the south.
Clutch size: Up to 10

Classification

Species:: atratus
Genus:: Cygnus
Family:: Anatidae
Order:: Anseriformes
Class:: Aves
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

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References

Pringle, J.D. 1985. The Waterbirds of Australia. Angus and Robertson/National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, Sydney.

Ondine Evans , Web Researcher/Editor
Last Updated: 27 October 2011

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5 comments

caza
9.01 PM, 18 January 2012

I live at the mouth of the Murray, ay Goolwa, and I enjoy the seasonal blessing of the cygnets. Everybody knows that they are my children. The male will always walk up to me and hiss or honk but, I will talk to him and he seems to remember my voice and contentidley walk away.

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Jaynia Sladek
3.10 PM, 27 October 2011

Hi Hugh. The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (HANZAB) notes that Black Swan family groups can disband about the time the young are fledged. So, if the parents of your cygnets have gone AWOL, they may have decided it's time for the young to leave the nest, so to speak. Cheers,Jaynia.

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Hugh
1.10 PM, 20 October 2011

We've had parents and 5 cygnets on our dam since they hatched. Cygnets are now fledged & are still here but parents have disapperared - is this normal? Thanks Hugh

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Jaynia Sladek
12.03 PM, 03 March 2010

Hi Karen,

Generally speaking, native fauna are not allowed to be kept as pets. However, there are some exceptions. Certain species may be kept if you have a permit for that animal from the appropriate State authority. Some other species are able to be kept without a permit, but you must check with your State authority first to make sure that you don't need one.

As you are in Queensland, you will need to check with the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management to see whether Black Swans are listed as approved pets in Queensland, and if so, whether you will need a permit. Start with their website at www.derm.qld.gov.au .

Good luck!