Birds of Australia

The graceful Black Swan, (Cygnus atratus), is the official bird of Western Australia although it can be found in wetlands throughout Australia, including Tasmania. Along with the emu, this swan is found on the Australian coat of arms and represents Western Australia. On Canberra's emblem, the bird is a symbol of the Aboriginal people while the white swan represents Australians of European ancestry. The Black Swan even runs through Australian folk lore. There are Aboriginal stories about some people in a tribe in Western Australia who were began life as Black Swans but were then changed into men