The Black-necked swan is an unmistakable, huge water bird, length: 102-124 cm ( 40-49 inches), all white with a distinctive black neck.  Breeding begins September to October at isolated sites close to ponds or islets on them. The nests are large and built of reeds, twigs and grass. Up to seven eggs are laid and incubated for five weeks.

Food is mostly aquatic plants from shallow waters in ponds, creeks and estuaries.

Uncommon breeding species on the Falkland Islands but it is often found where there are large white flat ponds and lakes on East and West Falklands, notably in Lafonia on East Falklands and Pebble Island on the West. This is a native bird of Southern South America and  breeds from Cape Horn north to southern Paraguay and southeastern Brazil.

Sources include: Falkland Islands State of the Environment Report 2008 Otley H, Munro G, Clausen A, Ingham B. A Field Guide to the Wildlife of The Falkland Islands and South Georgia - Ian J Strange, Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands- Robin W. Woods.

Photographic credits: Header: , 3 swans R H Koenig/Shutterstock.com

Photographs and Images Copyright: The images on this site have been bought under licence or have been used with the permission of their owners. They may not be copied or downloaded in any form without their owner's consent.