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Black Swan Cygnet

Cygnus atratus

Photo by AliceGreenup
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

In adult Black Swans the body is mostly black, with the exception of the broad white wing tips which are visible in flight. The bill is a deep orange-red, paler at the tip, with a distinct narrow white band towards the end. Younger birds are much greyer in colour, and have black wing tips. Adult females are smaller than the males.

Habitat:

Black Swans prefer larger salt, brackish or fresh waterways and permanent wetlands, requiring 40 m or more of clear water to take off. Outside the breeding season, Black Swans travel quite large distances. Birds fly at night and rest during the day with other swans.

Notes:

Spotted in Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay. This family was very tame, even the cygnet, who is quite old as obvious from it's size, beak & feather colour.

Reference Links:

Black Swan | BIRDS in BACKYARDS

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (8)
AliceGreenup
Oh great! Ill have to have a look at them all.
lori.tas
It was fabulous. I'm just starting to post photos from the trip. 19 spottings up so far: http://www.projectnoah.org/users/lori.tas
AliceGreenup
Oh wow! Id love to go to lady elliot island! How was it? Yeah they really are everywhere!
lori.tas
I was in Hervey Bay to fly to Lady Elliot Island, so saw little of the local haunts, other than the caravan park we stayed in overnight, and our walk on the Esplanade. Only noted that birds, especially estuarine ones, were in abundance.
AliceGreenup
It's a great place isn't it Lori?! I was seeing new spottings everywhere i went. Did you get down to Arkarra lagoons? It's said to be the one of the best places to spot wildlife, mainly birds, in hervey bay. I could verify it is!
lori.tas
They are so fluffy! I was just in Hervey Bay. Lots and lots of birds everywhere.
AliceGreenup
Thanks Jared! The fact that they were so bold helped greatly!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 29, 2013

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