An unusual black swan has been spotted in East Sussex.

The bird, native to Australia and notable for its entirely dark feathering, was found at the river bends within Seven Sisters Country Park during the past week.

Through their Facebook page, Seven Sisters Country Park stated that the bird was first seen at the meanders recently, marking a rare occurrence for the area.

Originating from Australia, these swans arrived in Britain during the late 1700s when ornamental collections escaped confinement and adapted to natural surroundings.

Staff suggest this individual is likely a lone traveller passing through the region, though they note the possibility of nesting would be remarkable.

They emphasised the need for visitors to manage their dogs carefully around the river bends to protect nesting birds during the breeding season.

Black swans are substantial waterfowl found throughout Australia. They represent the only swan species with entirely black feathers.

Unlike Britain’s resident mute swan, black swans display greater sociability, gathering in large flocks rather than maintaining solitary territories.

The species was first formally documented by English naturalist John Latham in 1790.

Before European discovery of Australia, black swans held an almost mythical status in European thinking.

Roman writer Juvenal used the phrase describing them as a scarce creature rarely seen, symbolising something impossible.

The actual finding of black swans in Australia completely overturned this belief. Today, the term describes an event of exceptional rarity and surprise.

Black swans are endemic exclusively to Australia.

Sightings in Britain remain infrequent due to their foreign status and exclusion from the official register of wild British birds.

The black swans currently present in Britain primarily descend from birds that escaped captive collections.

The first recorded black swan arrived in Britain in 1791, and the species quickly became fashionable among private collectors, zoological institutions, and garden estates.

Various specimens broke free and began breeding in wild conditions, though their numbers have remained sparse. A 2012 census recorded just 37 confirmed breeding pairs across the country.

With no established wild populations in East Sussex, the individual at Seven Sisters most probably originated from a nearby ornamental pond or private collection.

Solitary black swans occasionally turn up at different locations throughout Britain.

During 2025, one was recorded in Stratford-upon-Avon in January, with another identified in Orkney during June.