From Opus

Photo by Roland RIPOLL

Cygnus atratus

[edit] Identification

110-142cm. Black, white flight feathers of the wing edges, bright red bill with a pale bar and tip, greyish black legs and feet. Immatures - greyish-brown with pale-edged feathers.

[edit] Distribution

Southeast and southwest regions of Australia. Has also been introduced to all of New Zealand.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Wetlands and coastal islands; fresh, brackish and salt water lakes, swamps and rivers with underwater and emergent vegetation for food and nesting materials.

[edit] Behaviour

Both sexes build the large nest which is a mound of reeds, grasses and weeds about 1 and 1.5 metres diameter and about 1 metre high, in shallow water or on islands. 4-8 greenish-white eggs are laid and incubated for about 35-40 days. The young fledge about 6 months later.

[edit] References

Wikipedia

[edit] External Links

• Arthur Grosset's Birds