Australian Shelduck
Australian Shelduck
55-74 cm; span 1-1.3 m. Conspicuous, large, mostly black-plumaged duck with bold white, chestnut markings, large shot-green 'mirror' on wing. Male: white neck-ring; rich buff breast; in eclipse plumage, breast biscuit-coloured. Female: smaller; breast rich chestnut; white eye-ring and white round base of bill. Immature: duller, paler; head speckled white. Pairs, family parties to large flocks in which pairs persist. Grazes on short green grass; dabbles or upends in shallows; flocks loaf by day on large waters. Flight strong; in Vs or wavering lines; note white panel on leading edge and white, black-tipped underwing. After breeding, some migrate long distances to particular large waters, e.g. L. George (NSW) and Coorong (SA), to moult flight and tail feathers, becoming temporarily flightless.
- Other name
- Chestnut-breasted Shelduck; Mountain Duck.
- Voice
- male: deep zizzing grunts. Female: higher-pitched 'ong gank, ong gank' or strident 'ow ow ow ow'.
- Habitat
- large shallow waters: fresh, brackish, saline and tidal; farmlands, pastures, stubble fields, young crops, irrigation areas, open woodlands; occasionally at sea.
- Breeding
- June-Nov.
- Nest
- down lining in tree hollow; on ground under vegetation; rabbit burrow, hole in cliff, shallow cave; often far from water.
- Eggs
- 8-14; oval, cream, lustrous. Flightless downy young may gather in large 'créches'.
- Range & Status
- Aust. and Tas.: sparse in inland and n.; stronghold is w. Vic. and sw. WA; uncommon n. Aust. Sedentary; dispersive; locally migratory. Self-introduced NZ.
