- Oxyura australis
Identification
40cm
Non breeding Male
- Slate-blue bill
- Glossy black head and neck
- Chestnut back and wings
- Grey feet
- Brown iris
Breeding Male
- Bright blue bill
- Black head with white specks
- Chestnut back and wings
Female
- Dark brown head
- Mottled back and wings
- Dark grey brown bill and feet
- Brown iris
Immature :similar to adult female, paler and grey-green bill.
Distribution
Patchily distributed in south-western and south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Breeds beside deep, heavily vegetated fresh water; in winter on fresh water of any kind.
Behaviour
Breeding
The female builds the nest. The clutch consists of 3-12 eggs (usually 5-6) which are incubated for 26-28 days.
Diet
The diet includes molluscs, caddis flies, dragonflies, water beetle larvae as well as seeds, buds, and fruit of emergent and submerged plants.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Blue-billed Duck. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Blue-billed_Duck
