# Black-necked Swan (*Cygnus melancoryphus*) The Black-necked Swan is a beautiful bird with a striking black neck and white body. They are graceful swimmers and can often be seen gliding on lakes and ponds. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Black-necked Swan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Blackneck_swan_pair_hornopiren_chile_feb_2010.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jason Quinn, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blackneck_swan_pair_hornopiren_chile_feb_2010.jpg) ## Appearance The Black-necked Swan has a striking black head and neck, contrasting sharply with its pure white body. A bright red knob adorns the base of its black bill, and it features greyish legs. This coloration makes it easily distinguishable from other swan species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Cygnus ## Interesting facts - Baby Black-necked Swans often ride on their parents' backs to stay warm and safe! - The red bump on their bill gets bigger and brighter during breeding season! - These swans are the smallest of all the swans found in South America! - They build impressive floating nests made of plants anchored to reeds in the water! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Forager:** Black-necked Swans can reach food deep underwater by 'tipping up' or fully diving, helping them find hidden aquatic plants and invertebrates. - **Filter-Feeder Bill:** Black-necked Swans have a specialized bill that allows them to filter tiny organisms and plant particles from the water. - **Cygnets' Ride:** Black-necked Swans can carry their young cygnets on their backs, keeping them safe from predators and cold water. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 102-124 cm - **Wingspan:** 135-175 cm - **Weight:** 3.5-6.7 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 34-36 days - **Migration Distance:** 1000 km ## Diet & Feeding These swans feast on yummy aquatic plants and tiny water creatures by filtering the water! - **Age differences:** Young cygnets eat more insects for growth, gradually shifting to a plant-based diet as they mature. - **Primary Foods:** Aquatic vegetation, Algae, Small insects, Crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Culpeo Fox (*Lycalopex culpaeus*) — Preys on eggs and cygnets in coastal nesting areas. - **Depends on:** [Common Reed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-reed) (*Phragmites australis*) — Provides nesting material and shelter in wetlands. - **Eats:** Sago Pondweed (*Potamogeton pectinatus*) — A primary food source, diving for roots and shoots. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Protected](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/protected): Protected status signifies a species or area is safeguarded by legal measures and conservation efforts to prevent harm or loss. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch swans from a distance, as they can be protective of their space. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black-necked Swan? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black-necked Swan? 102-124 cm ### What is Black-necked Swan's wingspan? 135-175 cm ### How much does Black-necked Swan weigh? 3.5-6.7 kg ### How long does Black-necked Swan live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Black-necked Swan move? 60 km/h ### What does Black-necked Swan eat? These swans feast on yummy aquatic plants and tiny water creatures by filtering the water! ### Where is Black-necked Swan usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Lagoa do Peixe National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lagoa-do-peixe-national-park) — BR · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Black-necked Swan: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-necked-swan)