ANIMAL SPECIES:Black Swan
The Black Swan females are smaller than the males.
Identification
The Black Swan females are smaller than the males. In adults, the body is mostly black, with the exception of 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. It is the only entirely black-coloured swan in the world.
Size range
body 142 cmDistribution
Throughout Australia except Cape York Peninsula
Habitat
Wetlands, freshwater
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
The Black Swan is a vegetarian. Its diet 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
In the north, the Black Swan breeds from February to May, with June to September preferred by birds in the south. Black Swans form isolated pairs or small colonies in shallow wetlands. They pair for life, with both adults raising one brood per season. Up to ten 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 are covered in grey down and are able to swim and feed themselves as soon as they hatch.
Classification
- Species:
- atratus
- Genus:
- Cygnus
- Family:
- Anatidae
- Order:
- Anseriformes
- Class:
- Aves
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
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Black Swan View full size
G Little
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