# Black Swan (*Cygnus atratus*) The Black Swan is a beautiful bird with shiny black feathers and a bright red beak. They are graceful swimmers and can often be seen gliding on lakes and rivers. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Black Swan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/00_2102_Trauerschw%C3%A4ne_%28Breisach_am_Rhein%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:00_2102_Trauerschw%C3%A4ne_%28Breisach_am_Rhein%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Black Swan is an unmistakable bird with entirely black plumage, except for bright white flight feathers visible during flight. It has a striking deep-red bill with a pale band and a famously long, elegant, curved neck, making it visually distinct from other swan species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Cygnus ## Interesting facts - A group of swans is called a 'bevy' in flight, but a 'lamentation' on the ground! - Baby black swans, called cygnets, are born covered in fluffy grey down! - Black Swans use their feet to stir up mud, uncovering tasty plants to eat! - Unlike most swans, Black Swans build large, floating nests in shallow water! ## Special abilities - **Deep-Water Grazer:** Black Swan can reach deep underwater plants because of its extra-long neck that helps them graze submerged vegetation. - **Loud Bugle Call:** Black Swan has a loud, bugling call that helps them communicate with other swans across vast stretches of water. - **Waterproof Coat:** Black Swan has oily, waterproof feathers that help them stay dry and warm while swimming and diving in cold water. - **Powerful Flight:** Black Swan can fly long distances because of its powerful wings that help them find new wetlands. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 110-140 cm - **Wingspan:** 160-200 cm - **Weight:** 3.7-8.7 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-8 - **Incubation:** 35-40 days ## Diet & Feeding These elegant birds are vegetarians, mostly eating yummy underwater plants and seeds. - **Primary Foods:** Aquatic plants, Algae, Sedges, Grasses, Seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes prey on Black Swan eggs and cygnets. - **Eaten by:** Wedge-tailed Eagle (*Aquila audax*) — Eagles can prey on young Black Swan cygnets. - **Shelter:** Broadleaf Cattail (*Typha latifolia*) — Swans use cattails for nesting material and cover. - **Eats:** Curled Pondweed (*Potamogeton crispus*) — A common aquatic plant that Black Swans feed on. ## 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. - [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:** 3/5 · Moderate Always watch swans from a distance and don’t feed them, as they can be protective. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black 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 Swan? 110-140 cm ### What is Black Swan's wingspan? 160-200 cm ### How much does Black Swan weigh? 3.7-8.7 kg ### How long does Black Swan live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Black Swan move? 60 km/h ### What does Black Swan eat? These elegant birds are vegetarians, mostly eating yummy underwater plants and seeds. ### Where is Black Swan usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [David Traylor Zoo of Emporia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/david-traylor-zoo-of-emporia) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Tierpark Krüzen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-kruzen) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Zoo - [Roscoe Conkling Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/roscoe-conkling-park) — New York, US · Park - [Tierpark Finsterwalde](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-finsterwalde) — Brandenburg, DE · Zoo - [Ulsan Grand Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ulsan-grand-park) — KR · Park [View all places to see Black Swan](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-swan) ## 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 Swan: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-swan)