Black-necked Swan
Cygnus melancoryphus
The Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus) is a uncommon ducks, swans, and geese found in 13 countries, weighing about 4.7 kg. The black-necked swan is a species of waterfowl in the tribe Cygnini of the subfamily Anserinae.
About the Black-necked Swan
The black-necked swan is a species of waterfowl in the tribe Cygnini of the subfamily Anserinae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-necked swan is the only member of its genus that breeds in the neotropics and is the largest waterfowl native to South America. Adults are 102 to 124 cm (40 to 49 in) long with a wingspan of 135 to 177 cm (53 to 70 in). Males weigh 4.6 to 8.7 kg (10 to 19 lb) and females 3.5 to 4.4 kg (7.7 to 9.7 lb). The sexes are alike. Adults' body plumage is white and the neck and head black; the latter usually has a white stripe behind the eye. They have a prominent red knob at the base of their bill. Juveniles are grayish rather than white and lack the knob until their third or fourth year. Voice: The black-necked swan is mostly silent outside the breeding season. During that time, both sexes give a "soft, musical 'Whee-whee-whee' with the accent on the initial syllable", repeating it to challenge intruders. The call is also used to maintain contact between members of a pair. Males also give "a musical 'hooee-hoo-hoo'."
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Belgium.
When to see it
The Black-necked Swan can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-necked Swan?
- The black-necked swan is the only member of its genus that breeds in the neotropics and is the largest waterfowl native to South America. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-necked Swan?
- The Black-necked Swan is a huge sized bird weighing about 4.7 kg.
- Where can you see a Black-necked Swan?
- The Black-necked Swan occurs in 13 countries, including Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and the Falkland Islands.
- What birds look similar to a Black-necked Swan?
- The Black-necked Swan is most easily confused with the Black Swan, the Tundra Swan and the Trumpeter Swan.
- Is the Black-necked Swan endangered?
- The Black-necked Swan is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-necked Swan for real
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