Species profile

Name: the black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus) is the largest waterfowl native to South America.

Appearance: their bodies are white with a black neck and head. They have a red lump on their bills and a white stripe behind the eye.

Size: adults grow to around 1.0 to 1.2 metres and weigh 3.5 to 6.7 kg. Their wingspan ranges from 1.4 to 1.9 metres.

Diet: their diet consists mainly of aquatic plants, algae, insects, and fish spawn.

Did you know: swans are known to conduct triumph ceremonies. These ceremonies take place when a male attacks a rival suitor, then returns to his potential mate to perform an elaborate ceremony involving posturing and calling.

Location: they are found in freshwater marshes, lagoons, and lake shores in southern South America. They breed in the Chilean Southern Zone, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands. In winter they migrate north to Paraguay and southern Brazil.

Best places to see black-necked swans

According to reports submitted to WildSide, the best places to see black-necked swans are as follows:

Photo credit: JamesDeMers, under a Creative Commons license from Pixabay