Black Swan

(Cygnus atratus)

Live: Australia, and introduced into New Zealand in the 1860s.

Habitat: Shallow water, swamps, estuaries, lagoons.

Diet: Mainly vegetation, leaves and the stems of aquatic plants. They may also eat crops.

Gestation: Laid at approx daily intervals, 4-8 pale green eggs are incubated for 5 weeks.

Lifespan: 20 years

Status: Common

General: The male swan is called a "cob", the female a "pen". Young swans are called "cygnets" and a group of swans is called a "herd".

The male stands about 1.3m  tall and weighs around 6kg; the female is slightly smaller and lighter. The wingspan is up to 183cm. They are generally black all over, but the wingtips are white. The eyes are red. The bill is also red with white at the tip. The short legs are dark grey. Black Swans are powerful in flight, with slow wingbeats.

They make a trumpeting noise and also hiss and whistle.

In New Zealand they breed from July to October, and build nests from sticks and vegetation.

The cygnets are covered with fluffy grey down, have grey bills, legs and feet. The cygnets learn to swim and feed themselves very quickly. It will be 2 years before they have full adult plumage.

Pairs are strongly territorial and defend a large area around the nest. If forced to nest communally, they defend the area immediately around the nest. A low percentage of birds nest each year. Swans mate for life, but if a partner is lost, they will find a replacement.

Predators are dingos and humans.