Photo: Brian Ralphs from Wheaton, IL, USA / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-necked Swan
Cygnus melancoryphus
Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Cygnus
- Species melancoryphus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.7 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-necked Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Black-necked Swan is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Southern Cone.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4.7 kg, with a wing length of about 41.2 cm and a tail of around 12.2 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 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-necked Swan?
The Black-necked Swan is a very large bird that weighs around 4.7 kg.
Where does the Black-necked Swan live?
The Black-necked Swan is found across South America with a range covering SA Southern Cone, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black-necked Swan belong to?
The Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Black-necked Swan eat?
The Black-necked Swan feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Black-necked Swan migrate?
The Black-necked Swan is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-necked 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-necked Swan make?
4 real field recordings of the Black-necked Swan — including its 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-necked Swan's range?
The Black-necked Swan has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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