From Opus

Photograhp: davidfree
Location: Bold Park, Perth, Western Australia

Tadorna tadornoides

[edit] Identification

In flight, upperwing and underwing coverts are mainly white. Upperwing secondaries are green, while flight feathers are black seen from below. The body is mainly dark blackish-brown, breast and scapulars are chestnut, head is dark or sometimes described as having green iridiscence. Mid neck is a narrow white ring. Female is recognized by her white eye-ring.

[edit] Distribution

Found in the southern half of eastern mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the south-west quarter of mainland Australia.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Shallow water of any kind; nest is sometimes far from nearest water.

[edit] Behaviour

They breed in tree holes, holes in banks or similar and the nest is lined with down. Only the female incubates the eggs.

The diet includes grass on land or in shallow water, algae, insects and molluscs.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
2. Pizzey, G. & Knight, F. 1997. Birds of Australia (Collins Field Guide). HarperCollins Publishers, London. ISBN 0-00-220132-1
3. Wikipedia

[edit] External Links