Australian wood duck

Australian wood duck
Adult female
Adult male
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Chenonetta
Species:	C. jubata
Binomial name
Chenonetta jubata (Latham, 1801)
Range in red

Australian wood duck

The Australian wood duck, maned duck or maned goose (Chenonetta jubata) is a type of duck. It is found in Australia. It is the only living species in the genus Chenonetta.

Description

This duck is about 45–51 cm (18–20 in) long and looks like a small goose. It usually eats by grazing in groups. The male is mostly grey, with a dark brown head. The chest is mottled (covered with colored spots), and they have narrow white and black stripes along the sides. The female has white lines above and below her eyes and a speckled belly. Both males and females have grey wings, black wingtips, and a white patch on their wings. Young ducks look like the females but are lighter in color and have more streaks on their chests.

Habitat

The Australian wood duck is found across Australia, including Tasmania. It is 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. Because it finds food on land, it will often be found around deeper lakes that may be unsuitable for other waterbirds.

Feeding

The Australian wood duck eats grasses, grains, clover and other herbs, and occasionally, insects. It is rarely seen on open water, preferring to look for food in shallow water, or in grasslands and crops.

Nesting

Australian Wood Duck eggs

The wood duck nests in hollows in trees or in nest-boxes above or near water. Nests are made with a pile of soft down feathers. The female lays 9–11 cream-white eggs. She incubates them while the male stands guard. Once the ducklings are ready to leave the nest, the female flies to the ground and the ducklings will leap to the ground and follow their parents. The males also secure their ducklings closely along with the females.