South-eastern Australia, from Fraser Island, Qld to Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, SA. Also south-western Australia from about Esperance to Moora, WA.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 20,000 - 50,000 (2010).
Voice
A deep, grunt and a loud piercing whistle is uttered by the male during display, at the same time a jetting splash is given using the feet and / or wings.
Nest
A bulky structure, composed of bent down and interlaced stems, forming a cup-shaped mass lined with grass and down, placed among reeds.
Eggs (Guide)
1 - 3; smooth, glossy, pale green, quickly stained brown; ellipsoidal, slightly pointed; about 80 x 53 mm. Incubation: about 24 days; by female.
Young
Precocial, nidifugous.
Subspecies
Eastern population has been assigned separate subspecies menziesi, though doubtfully valid.
Eastern population has been assigned separate subspecies menziesi, though doubtfully valid.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
lobata (Shaw, 1796) - Lakes and swamps of south-western and south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.
menziesi Mathews, 1914 - South-eastern Australia (south-eastern South Australia to south-eastern Queensland) and Tasmania.
Similar Species
Females and immatures with female and immature Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) which floats higher and females and immatures with female and immature Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) which lack the stiff tail.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet