Photo: TarnishedPath / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Black Swan

Cygnus atratus

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australian Capital Territory Ducks, Geese & Swans of New South Wales Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northern Territory Ducks, Geese & Swans of Queensland Ducks, Geese & Swans of South Australia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Tasmania Ducks, Geese & Swans of Victoria Ducks, Geese & Swans of Western Australia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia

See what's near you right now

The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 5.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Cygnus
Species atratus

Where it lives

Australia (except northern, south-central), Tasmania, and North, South, Stewart and Chatham is. (New Zealand)

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 5.6 kg
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Black Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Black Swan is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except n, sc), Tasmania, and North, South, Stewart and Chatham is. (New Zealand).

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 5.6 kg, with a wing length of about 45.9 cm and a tail of around 10.6 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.7 million km².

Songs & calls

Black Swan — Call

Recorded by Timo S. Schnabel Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Black Swan — Alarm call, call

Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL Licence: Public Domain

Black Swan — Song / call

Recorded by Richard White Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Black Swan — Song, a swan landing on the water, frogs

Recorded by nick talbot Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

All Black Swan sounds, grouped by type →

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Black Swan?

The Black Swan is a very large bird that weighs around 5.6 kg.

Where does the Black Swan live?

The Black Swan is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except n, sc), Tasmania, and North, South, Stewart and Chatham is. (New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Black Swan belong to?

The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Black Swan eat?

The Black Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Black Swan migrate?

The Black Swan is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Black Swan endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Black Swan make?

4 real field recordings of the Black Swan — including its song, call and alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Black Swan's range?

The Black Swan has a mapped global range of about 6.7 million km².