Birdland: Swan Songs
Black Swans are native to Australia and they also breed in Tasmania and New Zealand. These large graceful creatures are unlikely to make the long journey across the Pacific, so when you spot one in North America it will likely be in a zoo. Like other exotic ducks and swans, sometimes they escape and can be spotted living among other similar waterfowl in wetlands and river estuaries. Black Swans look almost entirely black when they are swimming, but show a surprising flash of white feathers when flying. This Black Swan was photographed in a New Orleans park by Mark Silverstein.