Black-necked Swan
Cygnus melancoryphus
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<birdfyi-bird slug="cygnus-melancoryphus"></birdfyi-bird>About
A large elegant swan with pure white body plumage and a contrasting jet-black neck and head, a red bill with bright red caruncle, and a white stripe behind the eye. Native to southern South America. Unique coloration makes it unmistakable. Feeds on aquatic vegetation by upending.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 82.4 cm | 32.4 in |
| Weight | 5275.0 g | 186.07 oz |
Identification
Plumage
White body plumage with entirely black head, neck, and upper foreneck. Red double-lobed knob at bill base. Bill grayish-blue. White stripe behind eye. Pink-red legs. Sexes similar; striking contrast.
Habitat & Range
Freshwater lakes, lagoons, rivers, estuaries, and coastal wetlands in southern South America from central Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego. Partially migratory; concentrates at coastal estuaries in winter.
Geographic Range
Breeds across the northern Great Plains and prairie provinces; winters along the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico.
Diet & Feeding
Grazes aquatic plants and dabbles for invertebrates; diet includes seeds, roots, and aquatic invertebrates in shallow wetlands.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: M. Incubation: 34-36 days. Fledging: 100 days.
Clutch Size
4-8
Sound
Song
A musical, whistling 'whoo' or soft 'whooh'. Less loud than Trumpeter or Whooper Swan. Gives hissing at close range. Considered relatively quiet for a large swan.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes (Waterfowl) |
| Family | Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans) |
| Genus | Cygnus |
| Species | Cygnus melancoryphus |
Distribution
Black-necked Swan has been recorded in 5 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Black-necked Swan eat?
Where does the Black-necked Swan live?
Is the Black-necked Swan endangered?
How does the Black-necked Swan nest?
What does the Black-necked Swan sound like?
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What order and family does the Black-necked Swan belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Anatidae family