Black swans of Australia

The black swan (Cygnus atratus) is native to Australia – mostly in the south – and is the only entirely black-coloured swan in the world. Only the tips of its flight feathers are white, which can only be seen when flying. Its bill (or beak) is deep orange-red with white bands at the front.

Because it is a water bird, it feeds mainly on algae and aquatic weeds. It dips its head and neck into the water scooping up plants from the lake bed. Like ducks, swans sift and filter their food through special plates called lamellae (which can be seen in the photo). These tiny rows of plates along the inside of the beak allow swans to filter water out and keep the food inside its mouth.

The black swan pairs for life, and has one brood of about 4-10 chicks per season. The chicks (cygnets) are grey and develop their black feathers when they are about nine months old. Adult swans are quite large – the size of a goose. Males are called cobs and they are larger than females, called pens.

Although only native to Australia, the black swan is not currently under threat of extinction or significant decline. It is protected in New South Wales, in the east of Australia, under the National Parks and Wildlife Act of 1974. There are now colonies in many other countries.

The photos of the black swan were taken at Lake Burley Griffin, from Commonwealth Park, in Australia’s capital, Canberra. Both the black swan and the white swan appear on Canberra’s coat of arms.

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Cygnus-atratus

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Black-Swan

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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