[7] They have also occasionally been found in large rivers and saline water bodies such as billabongs. [2][3] The male has a slate-blue bill which changes to bright-blue during the breeding season, hence the duck's common name. They court females by beating their bill against their neck hard enough to create a swirl of bubbles in the water. [11] They include retaining sustainable water flows and developing salinity management plans and farm management plans. [3], There is evidence that O. australis is partly migratory, with movement from breeding swamps of inland NSW to the Murray River during autumn and winter. This population grew to about 3,500 individuals by 1992, and now appears to be expanding into the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Spain. Breeding males are almost cartoonishly bold, with a sky-blue bill, shining white cheek patch, and gleaming chestnut body. [7], The blue-billed duck is almost entirely aquatic. The courting repertoire of the male is very complex and elaborative. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Capt Jess Urie Signed Wooden Painted Duck Decoy Miniature Rock Hall MD Vintage at the best online prices at … It appears that a female will sometimes parasitise another's efforts at incubation, described as “facultative parasitism”, by laying “dump clutches” in nests other than her own. Blue-billed Ducks breed in secluded, densely vegetated situations with the nest constructed in cumbungi (bullrushes, Typha sp.) Ruddy Ducks lay big, white, pebbly-textured eggs—the largest of all duck eggs relative to body size. The birds then separate and preen themselves. More field research is needed into the average lifespan of O. australis in the wild; although, based on the high number of eggs in a clutch, and maturing 12 months after hatching would indicate a short life span of less than 10 years. The species is also widespread in the south west of Western Australia. Breeding males are almost cartoonishly bold, with a sky-blue bill, shining white cheek patch, and gleaming chestnut body. The grebes sometimes attack Ruddy Ducks from below the water, a behavior known as “submarining.”. The male duck exhibits a complex mating ritual. [3] Clutch size ranges from 3 to 12, the most common being 5 to 6, according to [3] Large clutch sizes indicate two females laying eggs in the one nest. [2][3], Oxyura australis is omnivorous, where invertebrates as well as seeds, buds, and fruit of emergent and submerged plants are eaten. [11][16] Despite short term gains for farmers through permanent flooding, sustainability of wetland systems would decrease. The Australian population of blue-billed ducks is estimated to be 12 000, although the creation of artificial wetlands such as water treatment works disguise the number occurring in natural wetlands. This widespread duck breeds mostly in the prairie pothole region of North America and winters in wetlands throughout the U.S. and Mexico. Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. Both sexes have brown irises. beds or other vegetation generally over water.Nests are usually constructed from dead Typha leaves, and are sometimes thinly lined with down.Blue-billed Ducks are polygamous, and pair-bonds are short-term i.e. Duck Identification Guide: All the Types of Ducks With Pictures. One 1926 account states, “Its intimate habits, its stupidity, its curious nesting customs and ludicrous courtship performance place it in a niche by itself…. Waterfowl identification may … Major threats include drainage of deep permanent wetlands, or their degradation as a result of introduced fish, peripheral cattle grazing, salinization, and lowering of ground water.[4]. Look for Ruddy Ducks from fall through spring on open water, both inland and in protected coastal areas such as harbors and small bays. [3][6] Its range extends from southern Queensland, through New South Wales and Victoria, to Tasmania. [3] The female's plumage does not change throughout the year. Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family:Anatidae). The tail is usually held flat on the surface of the water, or held erect when defensive. After hatching, the young remain in the nest for 1 day, and are then led by the female from the nest. for the duration of copulation and laying of the eggs. The bright colors and odd behavior of male Ruddy Ducks drew attention from early naturalists, though they didn’t pull any punches.