PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Swans are the largest of the water fowl and among the most graceful despite their size. They are readily distinguished from geese by their elegant necks, which are often longer than their bodies.

The Black swan is completely black except for a white area on the wings which shows only in flight. The red bill has a pale band at the tip but no basal knob.

The Black swan usually holds its neck in a flowing S-curve, with its beak pointed downward. With a wingspan of 6 feet, it is a large unmistakable bird that is easy to domesticate.

DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:

Black swans are native to Australia where they are found mainly in the south. Up to 50,000 have been counted at a single location. They now exist in a semi-wild state in New Zealand and Sweden. In New Zealand they thrived so well that control was soon necessary as the birds were interfering with native species.

BEHAVIOR:

Flocks of Black swans keep together in flight by the whistle of their wings.

The birds moult only once a year and the young, as in all other species of waterfowl, leave the nest on hatching. Swans fly and swim well. They do not dive, but merely submerge the head and neck, sometimes also the forward part of the body, when foraging for food.

By changes in their posture, these gregarious birds communicate to other members of their flock when they are about to fly. This is an important signal, for larger-bodied birds need considerable takeoff space. Thus a Black swan's flight is heralded when the bird raises its neck, smoothes its plumage and face into the wind.

Swans fly with matchless blend of elegance and power. They have been clocked at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.

Swans will attack any human who intrudes on their nesting territory. Belligerent, ill-tempered and territorial, they will not tolerate other swans, except their mates and young. The general rule is for one pair of swans to occupy the same pond or stretch of stream for their 30 to 40 years life span.

Swans frequently hiss, grunt, or when they are caring for their young cygnets, even bark like dogs.

DIET:

There food is mainly vegetable, but with some worms and insects.

REPRODUCTION and GROWTH:

Once they mate, swans remain together for life. Both partners share in building their nest, defending and incubating their eggs and caring for their young.

All young waterfowl can swim and feed themselves just after hatching, and during their first few months they live on water insects and aquatic vegetation. Swan families stay together for about nine months until the start of the next breeding season, when the young are forced to leave and spend the summer with other immature and non-breeding birds.