From Opus

Poliocephalus poliocephalus

Photo by Tom Tarrant

Identification

L. 29-31cm

Adult Breeding

• Brownish-grey above
• Whitish below
• Grey upper breast
• Brownish-grey flanks
• Grey-brown forehead darkening towards black hindcrown and nape
• Whitish streaks over head and cheeks give hoary appearance
• Black chin
• Usually pale yellowish-white iris
• Black bill with white tip
• Olive-green legs

Adult Non-breeding

G-enerally duller and greyer, streaking on head much reduced but dark cap retained

Juvenile

Similar to non-breeding adult but with indistinctly striped face.

Flight

Broad white trailing edge to secondaries on upperwing which continues across most of the primaries.

Distribution

Southern half of Australia and Tasmania.

Taxonomy

Habitat

Lakes, reservoirs and large swamps.

Behaviour

Breeding

Breeds November-January or after rains. Nest is a floating heap of vegetation Eggs: 3-6, greenish-white to pale blue initially.

Diet

Includes small fish and aquatic invertebrates.

External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID