Water for the environment: wetlands

	Wetlands Facts about Wetlands Wetland Plants and Animals Birds   Search:  [ HOME ] [ CONTACT ]		The Birds of NSW Wetlands - Waterfowl Ducks, geese and swans are known collectively as waterfowl. There are 19 native species of waterfowl in Australia. There are no true geese in Australia. All waterfowl inhabit wetlands, but not all wetlands are inhabited by waterfowl. Swans and ducks are rarely found in wetlands that are low in nutrients and with sparse vegetation, such as wet heaths and scrubs (Briggs, 1983). The breeding of Australian waterfowl is most successful after flooding due to the increased availability of their food, which includes plants, invertebrates and some vertebrates. Ducks Geese Swans References and Further Reading Ducks Family: Anatidae Black Pacific Duck - also known as the Black Duck Grey Teal Chestnut Teal Australasian Shoveler / Blue-winged Shoveler Northern Shoveler Pink-eared duck Manned Duck - also known as the Wood Duck or Maned      Goose Mallard Water Whistling Ducks - also known as the Wandering Whistling      Duck or the Whistling or Wandering Tree Duck Grass or Plumed Whistling ducks Freckled Duck (A vulnerable species) Musk Duck Blue-billed Duck (A vulnerable species) Australian Shelduck or Mountain Duck White-eyed Duck or Hardhead Black Pacific Duck - also known as the Black      Duck Anas superciliosa General Characteristics: Common throughout Australia, found in almost every wetland. Male: dusky brown head, neck, back and chest. Pale yellow-cream face and neck with a dark brown streak running from bill through the eye. Feet and bill are olive-grey in colour. Female: Is a paler version of the male. Commonly nest in tree holes or on raised sites, such as tree hollows. Feeds in or near water. Diet: Seeds, inflorescences, aquatic insects, crustaceans and shrimps. Habitat: Found commonly in billabongs and lagoons within River Red Gum forests and woodlands. Prefers deep freshwater wetlands. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Grey Teal Anas gibberifrons General Characteristics: The most abundant Australian duck. Highly nomadic, move in response to rain and flood patterns. Plumage speckled brown. Side of head and throat are almost white. Feet and bill are slate-grey. Can be recognised by their breast plumage and white flashes on wings when flying. Construct nests out of wetland vegetation. Nest almost anywhere, but commonly nest in tree holes or on raised sites. Can breed at any time of the year. Diet: Seeds of plants such as sedges, smartweeds and grasses, when available. Aquatic insects, including mosquitoes, caddis flies, midges and dragonflies. Habitat: Found in fresh, backish or salt waters. Found commonly in shallow wetlands as well as River Red Gum forests and woodlands. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW, but most abundant in the wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin. [ TOP ] Chestnut Teal Anus castanea General Characteristics: Often mistaken for the Grey Teal. Male has chestnut breast and a glossy green-black head. Darker brown wings. White patches at the side of the rump and a black tail. Female has a dark brown crown, and a lighter brown face with black streaks. Dark brown wings and back, lighter brown rump and tail. Nest almost anywhere, but commonly nest in shrubs, tree holes or on raised sites. Diet: Seeds, molluscs, crustaceans, worms and insects. Habitat: Favour coastal mangrove and saltmarsh habitat but are also found on inland wetlands. Distribution in NSW: Found througout most of NSW, except the very dry north-west. Garganey* Anus querquedula General Characteristics: *A vagrant, rarely seen in Australia. A shoveler-like duck. [ TOP ] Australasian Shoveler / Blue-winged Shoveler Anus rhynchotis General Characteristics: Male has brown-black head, rump and back. White crescent in front of eye and white patches on rump. Sides are speckled chestnut in colour. Breast is speckled brown. Female is much duller than the male. Plumage is speckled brown. Underparts are a pale chestnut colour. No white crescent in front of eye. Commonly found in groups of two to six, and mixed among other ducks. Commonly nest on the ground, in bushes or on other raised sites. A filter feeder. Diet: Insects, crustaceans and a variety of plants. Habitat: More common inland than on the coast due to the destruction of coastal habitats. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata General Characteristics: A migratory bird, only seen in Australia when it has gone off-course during migration. Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus General Characteristics: Males and females are identical in appearance. Characterised by zebra-striped plumage and a small pink spot behind the eye. Top of head is grey. Dark brown patch around the eyes. The neck, wings and the top of the back are midbrown. They very rarely leave the water, except to roost. Nomadic. They are able to breed at any time and are most numerous after wet years. Commonly nest in tree holes or on raised sites. Diet: A filter feeder, specialised to feed on plankton rich waters. Habitat: Tends to be found on stagnant waters and flood sheets rather than lagoons and rivers. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Manned Duck - also known as the Wood Duck      or Maned Goose. Chenonetta jubata General Characteristics: Male has a brown head and neck. Breast is white and speckled grey, wings largely grey also. Olive-brown bill, feet and legs. Female has brown to grey plumage, with black rump, tail and lower back. Breast white and head and neck are pale brown. Better adapted to walking than swimming. A common inhabitant of farm dams. It has benefited from agricultural development. Flocks are often seen grazing on improved pastures. Maned ducks mate for life. Commonly nest in tree holes. Diet: Plants, crops and insects. Habitat: Favours well watered coastal swamps and woodlands. Also often found in River Red Gum forests and associated woodlands. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Source: DLWC General Characteristics: An introduced species. It is closely related to and is able to interbreed with the Pacific Black Duck, which may threaten the survival of the native species, particularly because they compete for both habitat and food. Males have a rich green head and neck, with a white ring around the base of the neck. Breast is rich brown, rest of plumage is grey-brown in colour. Rump and tail are black. Green Bill. Female is mottled and streaked brown in colour. Tail is whittish and wings are darker brown. Dark orange bill. Diet: Seeds, inflorescences, aquatic insects, crustaceans and shrimps. Habitat: City parks and gardens but also commonly found in billabongs and lagoons within River Red Gum forests and woodlands. Distribution in NSW: Primarily found in the Murray and Murrumbidgee Valleys and small areas of the far north coast. Introduced into city parks and gardens. [ TOP ] Water Whistling Ducks - also known as the      Wandering Whistling Duck or the Whilsting or      Wandering Tree Duck. Dendrocygna arcuata General Characteristics: Plumage is a rich chestnut brown. Black streak on crown and neck, black patches on wings. Nest on the ground usually in a sheltered area. Mate for life. Diet: Primarily aquatic plants, but also insects and other small aquatic animals. Habitat: Frequent deep and permanent lagoons and dams. Rarely come ashore. Distribution in NSW: Found along the far north coast of NSW only. [ TOP ] Grass or Plumed Whistling Ducks Dendrocygna eytoni General Characteristics: Mid-brown plumage on back, yellow edges on feathers of the upper back. Tail is a darker brown. Face, neck and breast are light brown. Chestnut patches with black stripes at the front of the wings. Remains near the water during the day, and grazes on land at night. Diet: Green grasses. Habitat: Prefer dams and lagoons that are surrounded by grasslands. Distribution in NSW: Found widely in NSW but most abundant in Northern Australia. [ TOP ] Freckled Duck (A vulnerable species) Stictonetta naevosa General Characteristics: One of the world’s rarest waterbirds. The least abundant Australian duck. Males have dark brown, freckled plumage with off-white spots. Breast is a freckled dark grey. Females are similar, but much lighter than males. Males have a red bill when breeding. Construct their nests from wetland vegetation. Listed as vulnerable under Schedule 2 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Diet: Algae, crustaceans, small fish, seeds and zooplankton. Habit: Prefers inland freshwater, densely vegetated cumbungi or lignum swamps. Distribution in NSW: Found west of the Great Dividing Range, particularly around the Bulloo River. [ TOP ] Musk Duck Biziura lobata Source: Gould League General Characteristics: Male has dusky black plumage, with fine cream lines. Head, neck and breast are mottled with white. Bill is black with a large pendulous lobe, which enlarges during courtship displays. Feet are dark grey. Female looks similar to the male, but the lobe under the bill is much smaller. A diving duck. Construct their nests from wetland vegetation usually of Typha spp or Eleocharis spp. Diet: Insects, freshwater snails and plant seeds. Habitat: Prefer deep, semi-permanent freshwater swamps. They feed and breed almost exclusively in wetlands dominated by Typha spp. Tend to avoid arid areas. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Blue-billed Duck (A vulnerable species) Oxyura australis Source: Gould League General Characteristics: Males have a glossy black head, chestnut back and dark brown wings. They also have a distinctive blue bill during breeding season. Females are black-brown in colour, with light brown streaks, black tail and black specks on the throat and chin. The bill is grey-brown. Both have spiny erectile tail feathers. Commonly breed in inland lignum swamps. Construct their nests from wetland vegetation. Listed as vulnerable under Schedule 2 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Diet: Plants, insects and some larvae. Habitat: Prefer deep, semi-permanent wetlands such as those dominated by Typha spp. Rely on deep wetlands with abundant and stable aquatic vegetation. Distribution in NSW: Inland NSW. Found in greatest number in the Murray Valley. [ TOP ] Australian Shelduck or Mountain Duck Tadorna tadornoides Source: MDBC General Characteristics: The largest Australian duck. Males have a black head and neck, and a white collar. Chest is cinnamon coloured. Black back, rump and tail. White patch on the end of the wings. Females have similar colouring to the males, but chest is rich chestnut and they have a ring of white around the base of the bill. Commonly nest in tree holes. Diet: Grasses, sedges, algae, insects and molluscs. Habitat: Large lakes and estuaries in the summer and then disperse to other areas to breed. Found commonly in River Red Gum forests and woodlands. Distribution in NSW: Southern NSW, both coastal and inland. [ TOP ] White-eyed Duck or Hardhead Aythya australia General Characteristics: Males have a coppery brown head and neck, a rich dark brown throat, breast, back, rump and tail. Lower breast and belly are white. Males have a distinctive white eye. Bill is black with a slate-blue bar at the tip. Females look similar but are generally lighter in colour with a narrower bar on the bill and brown eyes. Construct their nests from reeds, sedges and sticks in sheltered locations. Never perch in trees and rarely leave the water. They feed exclusively in the water. Diet: Aquatic insects, molluscs, shrimps, yabbies, small fish and some aquatic vegetation. Habitat: Prefers deep permanent waters, particularly lagoons and swamps dominated by lignum and cumbungi. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW, but primarily within the Murray-Darling Basin. [ TOP ] Geese Family: Anatidae Magpie Goose Egg Source: DLWC Magpie Goose (A vulnerable species) Cotton Pygmy-goose (An endangered species) Magpie Goose (A vulnerable species) Anseranas semipalmata Source: DLWC General Characteristics: Once common but now almost completely wiped out as a result of habitat destruction and due to the expansion of grazing and agriculture, as well as hunting. Now mainly seen in tropical north Australia. Listed as vulnerable under Schedule 2 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Black head, neck, tail and thighs. Top of back and underneath is white. Feet and legs and orange-yellow. Bill and skin on face are grey. Nests are floating and are constructed using the spike-rush Eleocharis spp. Diet: Bulbs of spike rushes, shoots and seeds. Habitat: Sub-coastal plains of Northern Australia. Distribution in NSW: Only occasionally found on the far north coast of NSW. [ TOP ] Cotton Pygmy-goose (An endangered species) Nettapus coromandelianus General Characteristics: Range considerably reduced by swamp drainage and agricultural activities. Listed as endangered under Schedule 2 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Male has a white face, chin and neck, brown crown, brown collar, glossy green back and a brown tail. Bright red eye. Black bill. Female lacks the brown collar, has brown eyes and is less green on the back than the males. Nest in trees up to 10m above the ground. Rarely leaves the water. Diet: Aquatic plants, seeds and insects. Habitat: Prefers deep, permanent freshwater lagoons. Distribution in NSW: Far north coast of NSW only. As far south as the Clarence River. [ TOP ] Swans Family: Anatidae Black Swan Mute Swan* Black Swan Cygnus atractus Source: DLWC General Characteristics: Australia’s only native swan. The largest of Australia’s waterfowl. They are widespread and abundant. Males are completely black-brown with some white tinges on the wings. Bill is orange to red with a white bar at the base. Eye is red during the breeding season. Female is similar to the male, but the bill and eye are usually paler in colour. Can breed all year round, but do so mainly between May and September. Build their nests from wetland vegetation. Diet: Aquatic plants and pastures. Habitat: Freshwater and briny swamps, lakes and estuaries. Prefer wetlands with submerged and emergent plants. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW. [ TOP ] Mute Swan* Cygnus olor General Characteristics: *Introduced to Australia. Now found in most major cities and towns. All plumage is white, have a fleshy knob on the forehead that is usually larger in males. Bill is red-orange. Pair for life. Nest constructed with aquatic vegetation. Diet: Water plants, frogs fish and insects. Habitat: Frequent constructed ponds and lakes. Distribution in NSW: Found throughout NSW, but only occasionally live or breed in natural wetlands. [ TOP ] References and Further Reading Briggs, S. V. 1983. Ducks, Geese and Swan. Family: Anatidae. In "Wetlands in New South Wales". (Ed C. Haigh). National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW. Briggs, S. V. 1988. Guidelines for management of inland wetlands in southern New South Wales. Wetlands (Australia) 8 (1): 1-2. Frith, H.J. (1982) Waterfowl in Australia. Angus and Robertson, Melbourne. Readers Digest. 1988. Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. Reader’s Digest, Sydney.
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