Photo by Roland RIPOLL
- Cygnus atratus
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.
Distribution
Southeast and southwest regions of Australia. Has also been introduced to all of New Zealand.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Habitat
Wetlands and coastal islands; fresh, brackish and salt water lakes, swamps and rivers with underwater and emergent vegetation for food and nesting materials.
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.
References
Wikipedia
