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Biziura lobata

Photo by Lindsay Cooke
Location: Ballarat, Australia

[edit] Identification

60 to 70 cm. Distinctive large, leathery lobe underneath the bill; females are 47 to 55 cm. The lobe of skin (bladder) hanging under the drake's bill gets bigger with age. During courtship the Musk Duck blows its neck and cheeks out and expands the bladder to a diameter of 100-150mm. Dark grey-brown plumage.

Photo by julien
Location: Lake Wendouree, Victoria, Australia

[edit] Distribution

Australia.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Deep, still lakes and wetlands with areas of both open water and reed beds.

[edit] Behaviour

They sleep on the water at night, with the head tucked into the body or under a wing.

[edit] Diet

Water beetles, yabbies, water snails, freshwater shellfish, a variety of aquatic plants and fish.

[edit] Nesting

The female builds a platform nest of trampled plant material with a slight cup, lined with fine plant matter in tall reeds, away from land and protected by deep water. 3-4 eggs are laid.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID