Also known as the Australian Wood Duck, it is one of the few duck species that regularly grazes on grass like a goose.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Gunambaay, Ngaarmoot, Barrgabarrga, Marangana, Maned Duck, Blue Duck
At a glance
FamilyDucks, Geese, and Waterfowl
SizeLarge
RarityCommon
HabitatThe Australian wood duck is found in grasslands, open woodlands, wetlands, flooded pastures and along the coast in inlets and bays.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from July to November.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
816706approx records
7states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Small upright duck. Male is gray with a brown head, while the female is more heavily marked with pale marks on face.
Behavior
Often abundant in urban parklands and grassy areas.
Gallery
Regional timing
New South Wales
Queensland
Victoria
Tasmania
Western Australia
South Australia
Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory