All have either brown or dark gray plumage with streaking on the underparts.

The cygnet has a light grey plumage with black bill and feet.

The males of western African subspecies have a dark grey plumage.

Some individuals had grey plumage on their flanks, but the purpose of this is unknown.

Its eyes, belly, and chin are snow white, offsetting the otherwise dark gray plumage.

It has grey plumage apart from black head, tail and flight feathers.

It has very pale grey plumage which looks almost white from a distance.

These 23 cm long birds have grey plumage, darker on the head and wings.

The cracticines have large, straight bills and mostly black, white or grey plumage.

The cygnets hatch after about 36 days and have a grey or brown plumage.