Black Swan
Black SwanBlack SwanBlack SwanBlack Swan

Black Swan

Cygnus atratus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Rakiura National Park
17 Verified records at Rakiura National Park
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Black Swan sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 17 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Rakiura National Park

Paradise Shelduck
LC Endemic

Paradise Shelduck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tadorna variegata

20–30% · Possible
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

10–20% · With luck
Pacific Black Duck
LC

Pacific Black Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas superciliosa

<5% · Rare
Campbell Islands Teal
VU Endemic

Campbell Islands Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas nesiotis

<5% · Rare
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

Insufficient data
Australasian Shoveler
LC

Australasian Shoveler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula rhynchotis

Insufficient data
New Zealand Scaup
LC Endemic

New Zealand Scaup

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya novaeseelandiae

Insufficient data
Grey Teal
LC

Grey Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas gracilis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
5–10
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
30–40%
2 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
3 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
4 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
5 Maria Island National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
6 Freycinet National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
7 Tongariro National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
10–20%
8 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
9 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
10–20%
10 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
5–10%
11 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
5–10%
12 Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
<5%
13 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
14 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
<5%
15 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
16 Arthur's Pass National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
<5%
17 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
18 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
19 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
20 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
21 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data
22 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data
23 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
24 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
25 Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
26 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
Insufficient data
27 Springbrook National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
28 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data
29 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
30 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
Insufficient data
31 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
32 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
33 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Black Swan in Rakiura National Park?

About 1% of wildlife watchers report a Black Swan sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 17 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Black Swan in Rakiura National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for Black Swan in Rakiura National Park in our monthly data.

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