Hardhead
| Hardhead | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female | |
| |
| Male | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Genus: | Aythya |
| Species: | A. australis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aythya australis (Eyton, 1838)
| |
| Subspecies | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Nyroca australis Eyton, 1838 | |
The hardhead (Aythya australis), also known as the white-eyed duck, is the only true
Description
Hardheads are smaller than most ducks, usually not reaching much more than 45 cm long but sometimes reaching 60 cm, and noticeably more rounded in overall form than most ducks. Both male and female are a fairly uniform chocolate-brown above, with rufous flanks and white undersides (which are often not visible if the duck is in the water). The trailing edges and almost the entire underside of the wings are white. In the male, the eyes are a striking white, in the female, brown.[2][4]
Distribution and habitat
Hardheads are common in the south-east of Australia, particularly in the
Hardheads prefer larger lakes, swamps and rivers with deep, still water, but are often seen in smaller streams, flooded grasslands, and shallow pools. As a general rule, they avoid coastal waters.[4] They rarely come to land and never perch in trees.
Widespread throughout its large range, the hardhead is evaluated as
Behaviour
Like the other members of the pochard group, hardheads feed by diving deeply, often staying submerged for as long as a minute at a time. They slip under the water with barely a ripple, simply lowering their heads and thrusting with their powerful webbed feet. They eat a broad range of small aquatic creatures, and supplement this with water weeds.[4]
Hardheads are usually silent, but males have a soft, wheezy whistle and 'whirr'. Females have a loud rattling 'gaark' call.[4]
Gallery
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Standing male -
Male in flight
References
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Hardhead: Aythya australis". Birdlife Australia. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ S2CID 226085401. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Hardhead: Aythya australis". Birds in backyards. Birdlife Australia. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
External links
