# Black Swan (*Cygnus atratus*)

The black swan (*Cygnus atratus*) is a bird of the family Anatidae, in the order Anseriformes.

> The black swan (Cygnus atratus) is a large black waterbird of Australia with a bright red bill crossed by a white band and white flight feathers that show in flight. It weighs 3.7–8.7 kg and has been recorded living 40 years in the wild. Black swans are the state bird of Western Australia, were introduced to New Zealand, and are listed as Least Concern.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN-style):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Wetlands across most of Australia and Tasmania; introduced to New Zealand in the 19th century.
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-swan/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Anseriformes
- **Family:** Anatidae
- **Genus:** Cygnus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Cygnus atratus |
| Diet | Water plants and algae |
| Habitat | Lakes, wetlands, estuaries and coastal lagoons |
| Size | 1.1–1.4 m long; wingspan 1.6–2 m |
| Weight | 3.7–8.7 kg |
| Lifespan | Recorded up to 40 years in the wild |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018) |

## Identification

Black swans are sooty black with curled, frilly wing feathers, a long neck and a waxy red bill with a white band near the tip. When they fly, broad white flight feathers flash on the wings. Young birds are greyer.

## Nomads of the wetlands

Black swans follow water. They move long distances when inland lakes fill after rain and leave when they dry, and they gather in large flocks on coastal lagoons. They are the least territorial swans and sometimes nest in colonies.

## A symbol of Western Australia

Dutch explorers saw black swans on the Swan River in 1697, which gave the river and later Perth's region their names. The black swan is the state bird of Western Australia and appears on its flag and coat of arms.

## Status

BirdLife International lists the black swan as Least Concern (2018) with a stable trend. Black swans were introduced to New Zealand in the 19th century and are kept in parks worldwide, where some escape and breed.

## Frequently asked questions

### Are black swans only found in Australia?

They are native to Australia and were introduced to New Zealand. Escaped birds also live wild in parts of Europe and elsewhere.

### Are black swans fully black?

Their body feathers are black, but the main flight feathers are white, which you see when the wings are open.

### What do black swans eat?

Mainly water plants and algae, reached by dipping their long necks underwater.

### How long do black swans live?

Animal Diversity Web reports wild black swans living up to 40 years.

## Sources

- [BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Black Swan Cygnus atratus. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-swan-cygnus-atratus)
- [Animal Diversity Web: Cygnus atratus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cygnus_atratus/)
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
- [Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.](https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/)

## Help protect the Black Swan

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-swan/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.