Black-necked swan

The black-necked swan is the largest waterfowl native to South America, and it is truly a sight to behold. These elegant birds boast a striking appearance: a white body, a black neck and head, a grayish bill with a distinctive red knob at its base, and a white stripe behind the eye. Adult swans are fairly sizable, measuring between 102 to 124 cm in length and weighing from 3.5 to 6.7 kg. Their wingspan is also impressive, ranging from 135 to 177 cm.

One fascinating aspect of black-necked swans is their relatively quiet demeanor. Both parents are actively involved in raising their young, often carrying their cygnets on their backs, which presents a heartwarming sight. The female typically lays about four to six eggs in a nest built from vegetation. Their diet mainly consists of vegetation, insects, and fish spawn, which they forage in their aquatic habitats.

These swans typically reside in freshwater marshes, lagoons, and along lake shores in southern South America. They can be spotted in regions such as the Chilean Southern Zone, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands. During the austral winter, they migrate north to warmer regions like Paraguay, Bolivia, and southern Brazil. Interestingly, the Great Chilean earthquake created new wetlands that have become crucial habitats for these swans.

However, the black-necked swan population faced a serious threat between 2004 and 2005. Thousands of these birds either died or migrated away from the Carlos Anwandter Nature Sanctuary in Chile due to contamination from the Valdivia Pulp Mill on the Cruces River. This incident caused a significant decline in their numbers. Despite this setback, the black-necked swan is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is also included in Appendix II of CITES, indicating that they are not immediately at risk but still require monitoring.