South-eastern and extreme south-western Australia.
 
Population
Estimated population is 11,000 - 26,000 (2010).
Status LC
Hunting (being mistaken for game species) and destruction of inland swamps by extraction of water are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Aquatic animals and plants.
Voice
Silent in flight. A low, resonant, querulous groan, often becoming drwan out and peevish, is uttered by both sexes. An 'axe-grind' sound is uttered by the male. A low buzz ending in a soft sqeak. A throaty, chuckle uttered by the female defending the nest or ducklings.
Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) [XC407746]
by id from Lake Wendouree, Ballarat City, Victoria, Australia (call)
Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) [XC407745]
by Frank Lambert from Lake Wendouree, Ballarat City, Victoria, Australia (call)
Nest
Flat, composed of grass and herbage and lined with down, sometimes with a platform leading to it, usually well-hidden among herbage growing in or near water.
Eggs (Guide)
5 - 14, usually 7; smooth, glossy, cream or ivory; oval; about 60 - 65 x 45 - 48 mm. Incubation: about 28 - 36 days; by female.
Young
Precocial, nidifugous.
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Female, eclipse and immature Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) which sits higher in the water and has a stiff tail, in flight with Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) which has whiter under wing secondary coverts and a visible green speculum when viewed from above.
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