can you describe a male black swan please

[pusskin]

me and hubbie went lee valley park y/day. saw a black swan -- havent seen one quite like it. We've only got close to white swans really.
has a blackish male swan got a yellow stripe across, near the tip of his beak.?
he was only 2 foot away from us, and was a lovely , friendly ole bird! Many thanks folks

[saxy_jag]

We have one inhabits the lake aviaries at our local park. This isn't it, but it's the same species:

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:RsglYciBuN US_M:http://www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpaper/N ature/Birds/Swimmers/BlackSwan.jpg

[pusskin]

p.s. the swan I'm enquiring about , is called
"cygnus Atratus" I believe!
it has a readish, oragey beak!
Maybe we've both got it wrong ?

[pusskin]

many many thanks saxy. That does l ook very much like the one we saw. Thanks for your very quick reply ! bless ya

[pusskin]

When I said black swan, saxy, I really think it was more dark brownish, with bits of white around the feathers on the tail end of him.
Thank you once again , your a wizard

[wildwood]

The black swans in UK are from escaped/released captives birds.
They are native to and common in Australia.

[burnhal]

Had a black swan fly in with a mute swan on the reserve (near Oxford( yesterday. Probably one of Richard Bransons. At this time of year take a close look at the white swans as well- you will likely see the odd Bewick Swan- saw three yesterday -and maybe even a whooper. http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name /b/bewicksswan/index.asp and http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name /w/whooperswan/index.asp

[pusskin]

thank you for that burnhal -- much appreciated!
What would we do without without all our lovely british nature reserves ay.
we just couldnt find any info on the black swan in any of our bird books. So thank you so much !

[pusskin]

hi wildwood. very interesting to know that black swans are from escaped -- released areas in britain.
fancy them being originally from aussie. Thats news to me and hubbie. Cant wait to go back to lee valley , just off the m.25. many thanks

[Schutzengel]

Just as a matter of interest, and perhaps it may be nearer to where you live. There are some black swans on a private lake at Hoofeld, in the Kelsall/Tarporley area of Cheshire, close to The Biggest 50 pence Shop in the World.

[pusskin]

hi schutzengul----

many thanks for info, but that place you mention is miles and miles away from us. but thanks so much for the tip !