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Black Swan

Cygnus atratus

Least Concern

Length

130.0 cm

Wingspan

190.0 cm

Weight

6200.0 g

Family

Anatidae

Order

Anseriformes

About

The black swan was once considered impossible by Europeans who believed all swans were white, making it a famous philosophical example of inductive reasoning failure. It is the state emblem of Western Australia. Black swans form lifelong pair bonds and both parents share in incubation and care of cygnets.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Body Length	130.0 cm	51.2 in
Wingspan	190.0 cm	74.8 in
Weight	6200.0 g	218.70 oz

Identification

Plumage

Almost entirely black with white flight feathers visible in flight. Red bill with a white band near the tip. Dark red to reddish-brown iris.

Bill

Bright red bill with a pale tip and prominent white band

Habitat & Range

Lakes, rivers, swamps, and coastal waters across Australia. Also found in ornamental lakes in parks.

🏖️ Coastal 🌿 Wetland

Geographic Range

Australia, primarily in the southeast and southwest. Introduced populations in New Zealand, Japan, and western Europe.

Diet & Feeding

Aquatic vegetation and algae, supplemented with grain and pasture grasses. Feeds by upending in shallow water or grazing on land.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: M. Incubation: 35-48 days. Fledging: 95-170 days.

Clutch Size

4-6

Sound

Song

Gives a musical bugling 'boo-boo-boo' in flight and softer honking on water. Less vocal than Mute Swan; produces a baying call when alarmed. Wings whistle softly in flight.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Family	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Cygnus
Species	Cygnus atratus

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name
German	Trauerschwan
Spanish	Cisne Negro

Distribution

Black Swan has been recorded in 28 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇦🇷 Argentina 🇦🇹 Austria 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇹 Italy 🇯🇵 Japan 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇹🇼 Taiwan 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Black Swan eat?

Aquatic vegetation and algae, supplemented with grain and pasture grasses. Feeds by upending in shallow water or grazing on land.

Where does the Black Swan live?

Lakes, rivers, swamps, and coastal waters across Australia. Also found in ornamental lakes in parks.

Is the Black Swan endangered?

The Black Swan has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Black Swan nest?

Nest type: M. Incubation: 35-48 days. Fledging: 95-170 days.

What does the Black Swan sound like?

Gives a musical bugling 'boo-boo-boo' in flight and softer honking on water. Less vocal than Mute Swan; produces a baying call when alarmed. Wings whistle softly in flight.

How big is the Black Swan?

The Black Swan has a body length of 130.0 cm, wingspan of 190.0 cm, weight of 6200.0 g.

What order and family does the Black Swan belong to?

The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.