Australian Wood Duck

The Australian Wood Duck is a medium-sized 'goose-like' duck with a dark brown head and a pale grey body with two black stripes along the back. Males have the darker head and a small dark mane, with a speckled brown-grey breast and a black lower belly and undertail. The females have a paler head with two white stripes, above and below the eye, a speckled breast and flanks, with a white lower belly and undertail. In flight, the wings are pale grey above, contrasting with black wingtips, and have a visible white bar on the underside.

The Australian Wood Duck is widespread in Australia, including Tasmania. Found in grasslands, open woodlands, wetlands, flooded pastures and along the coast in inlets and bays. It is also common on farmland with dams, as well as around rice fields, sewage ponds and in urban parks.

Approximately 5 - 10 years of age.

The Australian Wood Duck is around 25 - 30 cm long and 700 - 955g in weight.

Feeds on grasses, clover and other herbs, and occasionally insects.

The Australian Wood Duck is found in grasslands, open woodlands, wetlands, flooded pastures and along the coast in inlets and bays.

They form monogamous breeding pairs that stay together year-round. The breeding season is September - November. It nests in tree holes, above or near water, often re-using the same site. The female will produce 8 - 10 eggs and incubate the eggs for approximately 28 days.