Habitat
Small, permanent, shallow freshwater and brackish lakes, pools in river courses, rivers and exposed inland mud flats, in both upland and lowland areas of open country during the breeding season and preferring deep freshwater lakes, artificial reservoirs, salt pans, sewage works and shallow brackish pans during the non-breeding season.
Habits
In the breeding season pairs, although large flocks of non-breeding pairs and single females may also occur at this time. Outside breeding and moulting seasons in smaller flocks of several hundred birds. A diurnal and nocturnal feeder.
Food
During breeding season almost entirely vegetable matter, such as maize seeds and other ripe kernels and seedlings of grain crops, potatoes, peanuts, sunflower seeds, rice and over-ripe figs. The species also takes the seeds, leaves and roots of grasses, reeds and pondweed, as well as filamentous algae. During the non-breeding season it is omnivorous, taking also crustaceans, brachiopods and insect larvae and pupae.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet