The black swan is native to southwestern and southeastern Australia although it has been introduced in Europe and Indonesia as an ornamental bird. It is about the size of Europe’s white mute swan (also introduced in the U.S.), has sooty-black feathers and a long neck, the longest in all swan species.

It prefers wetlands, lagoons, ponds and lakes with shallow waters where it can reach the algae and aquatic plants, its primary foods.

In the U.S. you can see black swans in some of its zoos. This bird’s population is secure.