Bird · GBIF taxon 2498344
Black Swan
Cygnus atratusBlack swans glide across Australian waterways with sleek dark plumage contrasted by vibrant red bills and bright white primary wing feathers visible in flight. Monogamous pairs form enduring bonds, sharing egg incubation and guiding fluffy cygnets along reed-lined shorelines. Nomadic by nature, large flocks disperse opportunistically across vast distances whenever heavy rainfall floods ephemeral inland wetlands.
AquaticWaterfowlNomadic
Licensed referenceCharles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aquatic plants
- Algae
- Pasture grasses
Predators
- Dingoes
- Red foxes
- White-bellied sea eagles
ThreatsWetland degradation, land clearing, pollution
HabitatsFreshwater wetlands, brackish lakes, estuaries, flooded pastures
Life span10–20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAnatidae
- SpeciesCygnus atratus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Nesting swans defend territories aggressively; keep a respectful distance near water edges.
- Why it is dangerous
- Territorial adults defend nests by charging and striking with strong wing joints, causing severe bruising.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Observe whether the swan arches its wings in a threat display, hisses, or swims directly toward you.
- What to do
- Back away calmly if a swan displays threat behavior, and avoid approaching nest sites or cygnets.
Responsible observation
- Observing Foraging: Watch for adults dipping their long necks deep underwater to reach submerged vegetation.
- Listening for Calls: Listen for high-pitched, musical trumpeting uttered while gliding or during flight.
- Respecting Nesting Pairs: Keep a wide distance from reed beds during breeding season to avoid disrupting parents.
Frequent Companion 
Frequent Companion (c) Tim, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim · cc-by
Close Relative "Mute Swan" by CarolineG2011 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) RAP, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by RAP · cc-by
Close Relative Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
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