Australian Wood Ducks or Maned Ducks
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The Australian Wood Duck or Maned Duck, Chenonetta jubata, is a dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia.
It is the only living species in the genus Chenonetta. Traditionally placed in the Anatinae (dabbling duck) subfamily, it might actually belong to the Tadorninae (shelduck) subfamily (Sraml et al. 1996); possibly, the Ringed Teal is its closest living relative (Johnson & Sorenson 1999).
Its habitat is lightly wooded swamps and marshes.
The flightless New Zealand species Chenonetta finschi (Finsch's Duck) which was formerly believed to constitute a monotypic (one single species) genus (Euryanas) has been determined to belong to Chenonetta (Worthy & Olson 2002). It became extinct before scientists could properly survey the New Zealand avifauna, but possibly as late as 1870.
Breeding / Nesting:
This abundant duck nests in a tree hole laying 8-12 eggs.
Description:
The male is grey with a dark brown head and mottled breast.
The female has white stripes above and below the eye and mottled underparts.
Both sexes have grey wings with black primaries (longest wing feathers) and a white speculum (= distinctive wing patch) .
This 45-51cm duck looks like a small goose, and feeds mostly by grazing. It rarely swims.
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org.
Diet / Feeding:
Ducks generally feed on larvae and pupae often found under rocks, as well as aquatic animals, plant material, seeds, small fish, snails and crabs.
Feeding Ducks ...
We all enjoy ducks and many of us offer them food to encourage them to come over and stay around - and it works! Who doesn't like an easy meal!
However, the foods that we traditionally feed them at local ponds are utterly unsuitable for them and are likely to cause health problems down the road. Also, there may be local laws against feeding this species of bird - so it's best to check on that rather than facing consequences at a later stage.
- Click here to find out which foods to feed them that will offer the nutrition they need to survive a cold winter and remain healthy
Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Please click here for info
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