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Pacific Black Duck

(Anas superciliosa)
Alternative names: "Black Duck", "Grey Duck", "Australian Wild Duck", "Brown Duck", "Parera"
Aboriginal names: "budhanbaa" [yuwaalaraay], "garrangay" [gamilaraay]
Size: 48-60 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Pacific Black Ducks can be found almost anywhere on the Australian continent. After substantial rainfall this includes even the driest part of the continent, i.e. the region from the Nullarbor through the Pilbara in WA and the Kimberleys. They are also found in Tasmania.

Pacific Black Ducks are usually found around fresh water such as rivers and lakes and vegetated swamps. In the most arid parts of the continent, even a tiny permanent waterhole may host a pair of Pacific Black Ducks.

Sightings

Pacific Black Ducks are permanent residents around various waters in the area of Narrabri, NSW. A number of Pacific Black Ducks stayed at our former neighbour's billabong, 20 km south of town, until the big draught of 2006.

Also spotted by us in a permanent waterhole in a creek in the Gammon Ranges, SA, in March 2008 (near the end of a 10-year inland drought).

Also spotted by us in many locations in central QLD, in particular also, in large numbers, in the wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, in July 2009. Special access to the wetlands kindly granted by the owners of Capricorn Resort is most gratefully acknowledged.

Photos

Note that the birds shown here are much darker than representations in field guides. Although the infall of sunlight can influence the appearance of ducks a lot in general, in this case this is a systematic effect.

Close-up view of a pair of Pacific Black Ducks

Here a pair seen from behind

Close-up view of a Pacific Black Duck

Pair of Pacific Black Ducks in a park ; note how in the shade they really appear to be black...

Lateral view of a Pacific Black Duck

This bird has just been feeding under water

For those who like diversity: Adult Pacific Black Duck (front left), Royal Spoonbill (front right) and Masked Lapwing (rear left) on our former neighbour's billabong, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW

Lateral view of Pacific Black Ducks in flight

Lateral view of a Pacific Black Duck in flight, with a brilliant display of its iridescent speculum

Immature bird moulting into its first coat of feathers

Here a family with tiny ducklings

Here four ducklings in their parents' wake

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Sedentary/nomadic Elementary unit: Pair