Description
The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) owes its name to the coloring of its plumage.
He is native to Australia where it nests in very dense colonies unlike the White swan.
Before the arrival of Europeans, the Black Swan was widespread and common throughout Australia. As the colonists hunted it for its flesh, its southern herds collapsed. This large black bird was an easy target, especially during the moult which prevents it from flying. Populations in remote areas continued to thrive, as did those introduced to New Zealand. Thanks to this, once its protection was decided, the Black Swan was able to quickly rebuild its numbers and regained most of the lost ground. In some provinces, growth is such that a limitation is applied to control crop damage caused by large flocks.
The Black Swan was introduced to France as an ornamental animal, but populations have developed so well that it is now considered a native species.
It usually lives in dense colonies but can be aggressive during the breeding season. It can hybridise with the mute swan.
He is a sedentary bird.
The black swan is an aquatic bird that lives in or around lakes, rivers, swamps, but it also frequents brackish water.
It feeds on aquatic plants that it searches for by dipping its long neck into the water.
On dry land he also eats various herbs.
The black swan sometimes invests the crops, the damage can be important to the cultivators.
An adult male can weigh nearly 9 kilograms and measure up to 140 centimeters in length for a wingspan of around 200 centimeters.
It is said that couples are mate for life.
