Since yesterday I have a pair of these around our water-hole.If those are Pacific Black Ducks, we haven't seen any here before.I thought they would live in more swampy areas, and we only have a tiny water-hole. Also, I think they might be two males with the blue bills?But, I could be wrong, as usual? Please tell me what you think. M-L
Hi M-L, yes I would say that they are definitely Pacific Black Ducks. I see them in a variety of habitats, not just swampy areas.
Thanks Andy, do you think both of them are male? If so, where are the girls? (just a question, are there any gay birds? Or is this a stupid question?) M-L
M-L
Yep, as Andy said definitely Pacific Black ducks.
I was hearing a story on AM on ABC radio yesterday that there has been a massive increase in the duck population this year, with ducks causing havoc among rice growers, though I'm not sure where. They are apparently of similar threat to locusts or drought, cause they pull out the entire plant, not just eat the grains.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Interesting Tim, down here at our place we used to have lots of Wood Ducks. One year we counted 23 young ones walking across the paddocks, that made my friend complain that they would eat the horses grass. These days we don't have any, I think they have noticed that the Wedge-tailed Eagles ate all their young two years in a row. It will be interesting to see how the Pacific Ducks go? The question remains, are those ones two boys, or do both sexes have blue bills? (I didn't think so) M-L
M-L
To me these both look like females. Doesn't the male have green feathers on its wings?
Then again, perhaps they are juveniles.
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
I had a look in all my books, they all say, both sexes have the green patch on the wings,only the female is duller. But it also tells me. their feet are yellow-green. You could be right soakes, they might be juveniles. (they are so common, someone will tell us any minute now?) M-L
I had a look at all my photos, there is no green, and no yellow feet either.
M-L
Morcombe's "Field Guide to Australian Birds" says "Sexes are similar, but female is slightly browner rather than black on crown and has more distinct buff edges to body feathers. Juvenile has streaky underparts. No seasonal change."
As for your 2, Araminta, I'm unable to tell any difference between them but someone else may have superior discrimination skills.