Black Swan

Cygnus atratus

Ducks, Swans, and Geese · Anseriformes · Common

The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is a common ducks, swans, and geese found in 55 countries, weighing about 5.6 kg. The black swan is a large waterbird, a species of swan which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia.

Least ConcernCommonEats plantswetlandplatform nest5.6 kg

About the Black Swan

The black swan is a large waterbird, a species of swan which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. Within Australia, the black swan is nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent on climatic conditions. It is a large bird with black plumage and a red bill. It is a monogamous breeder, with both partners sharing incubation and cygnet-rearing duties.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

Black swans are black-feathered birds, with white flight feathers. The bill is bright red, with a pale bar and tip; and legs and feet are greyish-black. Cobs (males) are slightly larger than pens (females), with a longer and straighter bill. Cygnets (immature birds) are a greyish-brown with pale-edged feathers. Mature black swans measure between 110 and 142 centimetres (43 and 56 in) in length and weigh 3.7–9 kilograms (8.2–19.8 lb). Their wingspan is between 1.6 and 2 metres (5.2 and 6.6 ft). The neck is long (relatively the longest neck among the swans) and curved in an "S"-shape.

What the Black Swan sounds like

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, Taiwan, Finland, Mexico, Luxembourg, Colombia, Mauritius, Israel, Chile.

When to see it

The Black Swan can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Black Swan?
Black swans are black-feathered birds, with white flight feathers. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Black Swan?
The Black Swan is a huge sized bird weighing about 5.6 kg.
Where can you see a Black Swan?
The Black Swan occurs in 55 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
What does a Black Swan sound like?
You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Black Swan on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to a Black Swan?
The Black Swan is most easily confused with the Tundra Swan, the Trumpeter Swan and the Black-necked Swan.
Is the Black Swan endangered?
The Black Swan is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Black Swan for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.