Australian wood duck. Credit: Kate’s Photo Diary

The elegant Australian wood duck is a goose-like grey duck with brown speckles on its chest, a dark brown head, two black stripes along the back and a short bill.

Where

These wood ducks have become more common with land-clearing along the coast as they prefer open pastures to graze on. At Booderee they are found only around the campgrounds, picnic areas and open areas of the Botanic Gardens where they can find short grass. Ducks will frolic with their families in the Telegraph Creek and Green Patch lagoon.

Feeding

Wood ducks eat grasses, clover and other herbs, and occasionally, insects.

Breeding

The wood ducks line a tree hollow with down and produce seven to 10 eggs. Hatchlings are born with a covering of waterproof down that enables the young to enter the water almost immediately.

Sounds

The most common call is a loud, rising gnow sound. The male call is shorter and higher than the female. Listen also for staccato chattering when the wood ducks gather in flocks.