| Scientific Name: |
Cygnus atratus |
| Range: |
Watersheds of southern
Australia |
| Habitat: |
Shallow waters of lakes and
rivers, coastal areas and marshes (fresh or salt) |
| Natural Diet: |
Aquatic vegetation and
small animals |
| Zoo Diet: |
Trout chow, grain and
vegetables |
Physical
Characteristics: |
Primarily black feathered
body with some white feathers on the wings. Bill is orange-red
with a white band near the tip. Eyes are bright red. Legs and feet are
black. The weight of an average adult is 20 pounds and the length
is around 39 inches. |
| Behavior: |
Monogamous. Feed at dusk.
Non-migratory. Will carry cygnets on back. |
| Reproduction: |
Black swans lay a clutch of
4-7 greenish-white eggs. The incubation period is 32-36 days. The male
and female incubate and raise the young together. Young swans, or
cygnets, remain with their parents for one year. After breeding,
the parents molt and become flightless for a short time. |
| Notes: |
Swans feed by dipping their
heads underwater and pulling up vegetation. They are good swimmers but
do not dive. |
