Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
Also known asSchwarzschwan · Cygne noir · 黑天鹅 · Cigne negre · Cisne-negro · コクチョウ · 흑고니 · قوی سیاه · تم أسود · Чёрный лебедь
Listen
Our streaming copies are mirrored from the original xeno-canto file and transcoded to 96 kbps mono — a modification, so we note it here; the licence for each recording is named in its credit above.
1 recording on this page · licensed Public Domain / CC0 ×1 · mirrored on this server, free for commercial reuse · recorded in France, Australia, China, Germany, Ireland, Italy and elsewhere · xeno-canto lists 61 recordings for this species in total.
A real field recording of the Black Swan. Press play and focus on the rhythm and pitch of each phrase.
About the Black Swan
The black swan (Cygnus atratus) is a large waterbird, a species of swan which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. Within Australia, the black swan is nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent on climatic conditions. It is a large bird with black plumage and a red bill. It is a monogamous breeder, with both partners sharing incubation and cygnet-rearing duties. Black swans can be found singly, or in loose companies numbering into the hundreds or even thousands. It is a popular bird in zoological gardens and bird collections, and escapees are sometimes seen outside their natural range. The black swan was introduced to various countries as an ornamental bird in the 1800s, but has managed to escape and form stable populations.
Ecology and behavior
As a member of Anatidae, this bird is associated with lakes, rivers, estuaries and farm wetlands. It generally feeds by aquatic plants, seeds and invertebrates. These habits determine where the bird is easiest to observe and explain why a recording often gives the first clue to its presence. Recorded examples on this site are linked to France. Local vegetation and weather can change the impression of the voice, but field identification still depends on the same evidence: the perch, surrounding cover and behavior of the calling bird.What to listen for
Calls range from soft contact notes to loud honks or quacks; family rhythm is useful. The available recordings are labeled as call. On the first listen, follow repetition and phrase length. On the second, decide whether the tone is clear, buzzy, burry, harsh, rounded or thin. On the third, trace pitch direction and the gaps between phrases. A strong field note describes the complete sound before naming the species. Note whether the bird stays hidden or uses an exposed perch, whether phrases accelerate, and whether the voice belongs to a boundary between two habitats. Those details make the recording useful during a real encounter. Compare the recording with the habitat immediately around you: the same phrase heard from dense cover, an exposed branch or an open edge can point toward different behavior. Returning to the phrase after a short pause makes the rhythm easier to remember and helps transfer the recording to field use.A field note on this voice
Listening context
The recordings shown here come from France. Because exact recording dates are not available for this conservative note, it is best not to treat any month or season as guaranteed. Local weather, latitude, habitat and breeding cycles can all change when a bird is most vocal. Use the region as a starting point, then look for supporting evidence in the field. Habitat, perch height, light conditions and observed behavior often provide more reliable context than a broad seasonal guess.
Time of day
The exact recording time is not available for this sample. Early morning is often a productive time to listen because many birds sing more regularly then and sound may carry well, but that is a general observation rather than a rule for this species. Birds may also vocalize later while feeding, moving through cover, interacting with nearby individuals or responding to disturbance. Listen for the same kinds of sounds at different times and compare the surrounding behavior.
What this vocalization may suggest
This page contains call. Songs are often longer, more structured and more repetitive than short calls. A clear phrase repeated at regular intervals can be associated with breeding activity or the defense of space, although the exact meaning should be confirmed by observation. Shorter or more abrupt notes may accompany movement, alertness or contact between birds. Changes in pace, volume or tone can sometimes reflect heightened interaction, while an evenly spaced delivery may simply be routine.
Understanding pitch
High notes do not automatically indicate courtship, and low notes do not necessarily signal alarm. Pitch works alongside rhythm, repetition, volume and tone. A high, clear phrase may be a territorial song, while high, irregular notes might suggest agitation; some low, soft sounds may simply help birds stay in contact. Rather than focusing on pitch alone, observe what the bird is doing before and after the sound. The most useful field note combines the voice with place, habitat, time and behavior.
Editor's note
These interpretations are intended as listening guidance based on the available recordings and context, not as proof of an individual bird's intent. When exact dates or times are unavailable, this note deliberately avoids claiming them. Strong observations record the date and time, habitat, perch height, weather and behavior before and after the vocalization.
Similar species
- Mute SwanCygnus olorrecording
- Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorrecording
- Black-necked SwanCygnus melancoryphusprofile
- Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusrecording
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusrecording
- Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusrecording
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisrecording
- Black-bellied Whistling DuckDendrocygna autumnalisrecording
- Brant GooseBranta berniclarecording
- Canada GooseBranta canadensisrecording
Species grouped by shared genus, family and range. Family: Anatidae.
More birds recorded in France
- Gentoo PenguinPygoscelis papuarecording
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusrecording
- GoldcrestRegulus regulusrecording
- Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosrecording
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusrecording
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carborecording
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusrecording
- Great EgretArdea albarecording
Every species xeno-canto lists for this country is on the full France list — 628 species, the ones with recordings marked ▶.