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Musk Duck (female)

Biziura lobata

Description:

The female is smaller than the male. Both male and female Musk Ducks are sooty-brown in plumage, with paler brown barring on the body and fine spots of the head. They are paler below, becoming whiter towards the abdomen. The bill is dark grey in both sexes and the eye dark brown. The tail is a collection of long, stiff feathers, which can be held in a fan-shape.

Habitat:

This species prefers deep, still lakes and wetlands with areas of both open water and reed beds.

Notes:

They seldom emerge from the water and are awkward on dry land. They rarely fly: take off is made with difficulty, and landing is a clumsy, low-angled affair with no attempt to lower the feet. However, at need Musk Ducks fly swiftly and for long distances, with rapid, shallow wing beats. In the water, Musk Ducks display an effortless agility, twisting and turning on the surface with both feet and tail. In general, Musk Ducks remain in the water all day long, alternately loafing and feeding energetically, though they sometimes emerge to sit on a log or on dry land for a while. They stay on the water at night, sleeping well out from land with the head tucked into the body or under a wing. Musk Ducks are very much at home below the surface, slipping under head-first with barely a ripple, and staying submerged for as long as a minute at a time, often resurfacing only for a few moments before diving again. They dive to escape predators or unwanted company, and to search for food, typically in fairly deep water. They can descend to at least 6 metres (about 20 feet). The primary diet items are water beetles, yabbies, water snails, freshwater shellfish, and the like, supplemented with a variety of aquatic plants and a few fish. I found this female grooming herself and it reminded me of a seal the way she moved and rolled around in the water.

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1 Comment

Jellis
Jellis 11 years ago

Looks almost like our Ruddy Duck minus the lobe.

RachaelB
Spotted by
RachaelB

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Spotted on Dec 29, 2012
Submitted on Jan 9, 2013

Spotted for Mission

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Reference

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