One of the few duck species where both sexes look alike, with distinctive white spots across the neck and flanks.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyDucks, Geese, and Waterfowl
SizeLarge
RarityUncommon
HabitatFound in small flocks in coastal wetlands and lagoons.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
109visible hotspots
2585visible records
2states
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
Similar to Wandering Whistling-Duck, but lacks warm rusty coloring, and has pale-spotted rather than dark-spotted breast. Australia range slowly expanding southwards from Cape York region, with regular records now from the Wet Tropics.
Behavior
Found in small flocks in coastal wetlands and lagoons.
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
Northern Territory
Commonly confused with
Radjah ShelduckRadjah radjahNote narrow dark breast-band.→Green Pygmy-GooseNettapus pulchellusTiny duck. Female lacks the dark head and neck, but has a strong dark eye-line continuing back to nape. Usually found in tropical freshwater wetlands across northern Australia.→Wandering Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arcuataOften in smaller flocks around lakes, ponds, and dams. As the name suggests, note whistling call.→