2 |
Pacific Black Duck |
Sightings
Pacific Black Ducks are permanent residents around various waters in the area of Narrabri, New South Wales. A number of Pacific Black Ducks stayed at our former neighbour's billabong 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.
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.
Photos
Pair of Pacific Black Ducks in a park in Narrabri, New South Wales (click on image for larger version); note how in the shade they really appear to be black...
Lateral view of a Pacific Black Duck (click on image for larger version)
... while out in bright sunlight they look more brown (click on image for full-size display)
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, New South Wales (click on image for larger version)
Lateral view of a Pacific Black Duck in flight (click on image for larger version)
Lateral view of a Pacific Black Duck in flight, with a brilliant display of its iridescent speculum