A breeding pair of black swans resident at the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset.

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The black swan is only species to have an almost entirely black plumage. The Black swan was first introduced to England in 1791, though the earliest record of successful breeding in the wild was not until 1902. The species, though rare, has a wide geographical spread throughout the British Isles. Up until 2005, fewer than 20 pairs were reported to be breeding across the UK. Black swan has the potential to be an agricultural pest, grazing and fouling grass and eating arable crops. The species is also known to be aggressive and can out-compete native species of wildfowl. Black Swan is listed under Schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 with respect to England and Wales. As such, it is an offence to release or allow the escape of this species into the wild.

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Size: 2876px × 1999px
Location: Abbotsbury Swannery Dorset United Kingdom
Photo credit: © Jada Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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