It is the only black coloured swan in the world and caused quite a stir when discovered by Dutch explorers on the Swan River in 1697. Until then all swans were assumed to be white.

These beautiful birds are large, weighing up to nine kilograms and have a two-metre wingspan.

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They are mostly black with white wing tips and a bright red, white-tipped bill, and red eyes. They fly slowly with an outstretched neck, often forming a vee formation. They are clumsy on land.

The female, called a pen is smaller than the male, called a cob.

Vocalisation is a distinctive high-pitched musical bugle-like call, often with honks and whistles, and they croon and make whistling sounds when nesting.

Occurring mostly in pairs or family groups, they will also congregate in flocks of up to several thousands on shallow wetlands and are found across Australia. They do not migrate but are erratically nomadic depending on climatic conditions at the time.

Their preferred habitats are flooded pastures, ornamental ponds and sheltered marine or estuarine environments. They have even been seen in the sea. They prefer larger waterways and permanent wetlands as they require 40 metres or more of water to take off and land.

The Black Swans are vegetarian and eat algae, sea grasses and other aquatic plants, obtained by plunging their long necks up to one metre into the water. They also filter-feed, running their bill over the water surface.

Black Swans pair for life and are opportunistic breeders. Usually nesting between June and September, they will breed all round if conditions are right.

Nests are constructed, of reeds and grasses, above the waterline. Up to ten greenish eggs are laid and incubated by both parents for 35-45 days. Swan eggs are the largest of any bird capable of flight.

The cygnets have grey down when hatched and start to develop their black feathers after four weeks. They stay with their parents for about nine months until they are capable of flight.

I have observed many swans on nests in the Maitland area in the last few months and some cygnets, successfully hatched, are already visible in the wetlands. Despite their parents' fierce defence, they don't all survive the many predators.

Hunter Bird Observers Club website can be found at: http://www.hboc.org.au