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Medium-sized duck; smaller than a Mallard.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyDucks, Geese, and Waterfowl
SizeLarge
RarityRare
HabitatWetlands, floodplains, lakes, estuaries, and slow-moving waterways.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from May.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
27visible hotspots
704visible records
3states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
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
Huge, spoon-shaped bill visible at a distance and in flight. Breeding males have dark green head, white breast, and chestnut sides and belly. Females buffy-brown with large, distinctive bill. Chalky-blue upperwing.
Behavior
Forages by sifting through the water, often swimming in spirals in groups.
Gallery