The black swan (Cygnus atratus) is a bird of the family Anatidae, in the order Anseriformes.
Quick answer
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.
Top questions about the Black Swan
Black Swan facts at a glance
- Weight 5.6 kg
- Length 1.4 m
| 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) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Cygnus |
Where it lives
The black swan (Cygnus atratus) is native to Wetlands across most of Australia and Tasmania; introduced to New Zealand in the 19th century. — recorded across Oceania in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
How big is a black swan?
An adult black swan measures 1.4 m long — about 81% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 5.6 kg, about 8% of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).
Length vs an average adult’s height (to scale)
What is a group of black swans called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Black Swans is called a bevy. It is also known as a wedge.
Baby name
A baby Black Swan is called a cygnet.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
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.
Explore the Black Swan
Close relatives
- Swan Same genus
- Canada Goose Same family
- Muscovy Duck Same family
- Mandarin Duck Same family
Range & geography
Did you know? Black Swan facts
- Black swans are the least territorial swans and sometimes nest in colonies.
- The Swan River in Western Australia is named after them.
Conservation status of the Black Swan
The black swan (Cygnus atratus) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Least Concern (LC) is the IUCN's lowest-risk category, assigned to widespread, abundant species that have been evaluated and found not to be threatened. It does not mean a species faces no pressures — only that it is not currently at risk of extinction.
Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2018. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Black Swan
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.
What is a group of black swans called?
A group of Black Swans is called a bevy. It is also known as a wedge.
What is a baby black swan called?
A baby Black Swan is called a cygnet.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Black Swan:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Cygnus atratus, most recently assessed in 2018.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Cygnus atratus. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
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GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Cygnus atratus. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
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eBird — bird observations
Cornell Lab eBird target search for Black Swan. Check recent checklists and seasonal abundance where birders report this species.
- BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Black Swan Cygnus atratus. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.
IUCN Red List category Least Concern (assessed 2018), population estimate and trend.
- Animal Diversity Web: Cygnus atratus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Size, lifespan and behaviour.
- 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
Average body mass.
- Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.
English and scientific name, classification and range.
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