Black Swans. (Cygnus atratus). Bernard Spragg photography

A large black swan, usually seen floating on water. When the wings are lifted, or when flying, pure white flight feathers are visible, which are black-tipped in immature birds. The bill is a bright red with a terminal white band, the eyes are red, and the legs are dark grey. Both sexes are alike, but the female is noticeably smaller than the male. Cygnets are grey with a black bill, and newly-fledged young are dull greyish-brown with a brown eye. On land swans walk slowly and are ungainly. In flight, the birds labour and their conspicuous white flight feathers elicit a whistling sound...Voice: generally described as “a musical bugling” given primarily as a contact call between mates and often accompanied by flicking head movements. Hisses when defending young or when threatening.