Hardhead or White-eyed Duck

Description:

The Hardhead is endemic to Australia, and is also the only true diving duck found in Australia. A striking duck, it medium-sized, mainly rich chocolate brown, with a white undertail. Males have a distinct white eye, while the eye is brown in females. The bill is pale blue on the tip.

Habitat:

A pond at the Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens, established on subtropical woodland. Habitat also liked by other native water birds such as pacific black ducks and dusky moorhens (last shot).

Notes:

The third shot shows the duck's pectens, used as food-strainer and as a comb for preening. Hardheads are true lovers of water and are often seen in lasge numbers in freshwater swamps and wetlands, occasionally in sheltered estuaries. This duck is a vagrant in New Zealand and New Guinea.