"Australian Black Swan" (Cygnus atratus)

	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost Lake Eola 2003
	"sleeping" Australian Black Swan Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Australian Black Swan "cygnet" Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Australian Black Swan with "cygnets" Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Australian Black Swan with "cygnets" Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Australian Black Swan "male" and "female" Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Photograph by © Snow W. Frost
	Black Swan and Silver Swan Photograph by © Ian Gereg
	Australian Black Swan with "cygnet" Photograph by © Ray Desjardins
	"Matilda" Photograph by © Ray Desjardins
	"Pair" of Australian Black Swans Photograph by © Chris Griffin

These swans are native to most of Australia, including Tasmania. The Black Swans are the most social of the swans, and during the breeding season will often nest in loose colonies. Most other swans will not tolerate other pairs anywhere near their nests. Their black plumage includes white flight feathers, underneath. The parents often carry the young cygnets on their backs when they are swimming. Black Swans can fly as fast as 50 mph. Their beak is red, with a white stripe across the base area.





Nest: Large mass of plant material.

Food: Aquatic plants Habitat: Lakes and marshes, preferably of large size. Can also be found in brackish estuaries in parts of its range.





My personal notes...
The Australian Black Swans are so beautiful to watch them swim...holding its wings up over its back in an arch. The cygnets are grayish in color---fuzzy-looking. I especially enjoy the beak...with the white stripe that looks like it is painted across near the bottom of the beak. I also like the way the feathers in the rear of the swan...who it looks like "ruffles"...different than the way the plumage lays on the white mute swans...interesting.





More "Australian Black Swan" information:
"Australian Black Swan Nests, Eggs & Babies"





Bird Wonderland
" Wonderland Website"
Copyright © 1999-2010 Snow W. Frost
All rights reserved.
Reproduction without permission is strictly forbidden.