Black swan

Scientific name: Cygnus atratus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Entirely black plumage with bright red bill and white flight feathers visible in flight. Adults are large, heavy-bodied waterfowl with long, curved necks. Males average slightly larger than females but sexing in field is difficult without size comparison.

Size and weight

Males 6.3–8.2 kg, females 5.0–6.8 kg; body length 110–142 cm.

Habitat

Black swans inhabit coastal and inland waterways including lakes, lagoons, estuaries, and river systems with open water and emergent vegetation. They prefer shallow, brackish to freshwater environments with aquatic plants and accessible shorelines.

Distribution

Native to Australia and southern Tasmania; introduced and feral populations established in New Zealand, Japan, and parts of Europe. Favor temperate freshwater and brackish wetlands.

Diet

Primarily aquatic vegetation including algae, water lilies, and submerged plants; occasionally grazes terrestrial grasses and clover near water margins.

Behaviour

Diurnal and crepuscular; highly social, often in pairs or flocks ranging from small groups to hundreds. Sedentary to nomadic depending on water availability; strong fliers despite heavy build. Mute except for occasional hisses and grunts.

Hunting tips

Look for black feathers, red bill fragments, and round droppings 1–2 cm diameter near water margins and roosting sites. Approach from downwind across open water using waterfowl blinds or floating concealment; avoid sudden movements as flocks flush quickly. Glass shorelines at dawn and dusk when birds move between feeding and roosting areas.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

New Zealand

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.