These big birds are familiar to most Australians. What might be surprising is that they're vegetarians, eating water plants like algae and weeds. The swan will plunge its head into the water to grab a beak-full, and that’s where that long neck comes in handy because it allows it to reach deeper into the water than most other birds. Occasionally these birds will graze on pastures, including a bit of grass.

The black swan’s nest is a mound of whatever it can find in the area, mainly sticks and leaves. Both parents build the nest and its size depends on how much stuff the swan can find. The birds lay up to about ten eggs and, despite claims to the contrary in the story of The Ugly Duckling, the young are seriously cute. The young are able to swim soon after hatching and the family will stay together for about nine months.

Black swan on a nest

Swans have serrations along the edge of their beak which help them grip water plants. They are not proper teeth, even though they might look like them.

In New Zealand there was a type of swan that was hunted to extinction. The black swan has been introduced there and is now doing so well that control measures have been necessary to prevent the birds from causing a nuisance to local species. Black swans have also been introduced in Sweden.

Webbed feet
One look at these and you can see why these birds are more graceful on the water than on land

Mum, Dad and the kids
This family of black swans was photographed at Sydney's Centennial Park. Not only do swans tend to form lifelong partnerships, but they share the job of raising the young