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Black-necked swans (Cygnus melanocoryphus)

Judith Wolfe      Gliding Black Necked Swan

Zoo collection includes: Two swans

Found in the wild:  Southern part of South America, including Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, and Tierra del Fuego. They inhabit freshwater lakes, marshes, and lagoons and are the most aquatic of all swans, rarely being seen on land.

See Them at the Central Park Zoo: Gliding in the water in the Japanese Macaque habitat in the Temperate Zone. They often have the company of visiting wild mallard ducks and their young.

Description: These swans are the smallest of the swan species and usually weigh no more than 15 lbs. They have white bodies, long black necks, and a black bill. It also sports a bright red knob where the beak meets the head, a feature that is enlarged on males during breeding season.

What do they eat: This vegetarian bird eats aquatic plants. In the CPZ, these swans are fed avian pellets and chopped greens.

Life span: 10-15 years.

Threats: While not globally threatened, some of their wetlands are being drained, which poses a threat. These swans have proven adaptable and have already partially recolonized parts of Chile where they had been over hunted.

Fun Facts: The swans use their long neck, consisting of 25 out of 60 vertebrae, to eat the underwater plants and maintain their balance at the water surface without having to dive. If one of these swans wants to upend and feed on deeper matter, they may reach depths of 3-4 feet and stay underwater for as much as 20 seconds. They may also do this to escape a predator. There is a reason paired swans have become a symbol for lovers—Black-necked swans mate for life. Of the eight species of swan, black-neckeds are among the fastest. They’ve been clocked at speeds of nearly 50 miles per hour. Male swans are called cobs, females are called pens, and baby swans are known as cygnets.

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