Freckled Duck

This species was formerly allied with the dabbling ducks, but is now placed in a monotypic subfamily Stictonettinae. It appears to be part of an Gondwanan radiation of waterfowl, before true ducks evolved .

The Freckled Duck is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) is a moderately large, broad-bodied duck native to southern Australia. The duck is protected by law. Dark in colour with fine off-white speckles all over, it is most easily identified by its large head with a peaked (as opposed to rounded) crown. This species was formerly allied with the dabbling ducks, but is now placed in a monotypic subfamily Stictonettinae. More

The Freckled Duck feeds by dabbling in shallow water, often by wading near the edge. It prefers large, well-vegetated swamps, but moves to open water after breeding or in dry periods. In flight, it has a distinctive rapid wing beat and holds its head low, making it look rather hunchbacked. It does not turn rapidly and lands clumsily. More

The freckled duck is a surface feeder. It lacks alarm calls, courtship display, and demonstrative pair bonds. It may constitute a separate tribe, Stictonettini, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). The duck has been classified as endangered by the Australian government, which has taken measures to protect it. Learn more about "freckled duck" Citations - MLA Style: "freckled duck." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 16 May. 2010 . More

During the breeding season, the male Freckled Duck’s bill becomes crimson at the base. Facts and figures Research Species: No Minimum size: 48 cm Maximum size: 59 cm Average size: 54 cm Average weight: 910 g Breeding season: September to December, but varies with rainfall. Clutch size: Five to fourteen. Incubation: 28 days Calls As a contact call a soft musical piping. More

The Freckled Duck is a dark, greyish-brown bird with a large head that is peaked at the rear, and a distinctive narrow, slightly up-turned bill. Their dark brownish-black plumage is evenly freckled all over with white or buff. During the winter-spring breeding season, the male’s bill becomes crimson at the base. Location and habitat - Distribution The Freckled Duck is found primarily in south-eastern and south-western Australia, occurring as a vagrant elsewhere. More

The Freckled Duck is a rare bird found in inland south-eastern Australia and the south-west of Western Australia, however, vagrants may occur elsewhere, particularly during periods of drought. Freckled Duck prefer fresh, densely vegetated waters, particularly floodwater swamps and creeks vegetated with lignum or canegrass. Status The Freckled Duck is protected in all states and territories and must not be shot. More

Freckled Duck are most vulnerable) and to make pre-season surveys of Freckled Duck numbers in wetlands so as to temporarily close areas to shooting, but it is too early to know how effective these changes will be. In the longer-term, the key survival issue for Freckled Duck is likely to be habitat rather than hunting. More

Common threats:The Freckled Duck is one of the world's rarest waterbirds. The numbers of these ducks have declined to an estimated 20,000 birds in the wild, although this number changes seasonally with breeding. Wetlands are being continually drained and modified for development and agricultural purposes. The current prolonged drought is also negatively impacting on these areas, limiting replenishment of the wetlands. More

The Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) is the rarest duck in Australia. It is a secretive species that prefers the densely vegetated freshwater swamps of inland southeastern Australia where it rarely ventures in open water. The exception to this rule is during drought period when freckled ducks are forced to move from their drying swamps to more coastal areas. In 28 years of bird watching I More

During the breeding season, the male Freckled Duck's bill becomes crimson at the base. Alternative Name/s Canvasback, Oatmeal Duck, Speckled Duck, Diamantina Duck. Identification The Freckled Duck is a dark greyish-brown duck with a large head that is peaked at the rear, and a distinctive narrow and slightly upturned bill. The dark brown plumage is evenly freckled all over with white or buff. During the breeding season the male's bill becomes crimson at the base. More

Freckled Duck), Great Crested Grebe, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Clamorous Reed-warbler, Little Grassbird and Swamp Harrier. Freckled Duck has been seen several times in recent years on the small island or roosting in the tree out in the water. In summer as the lake dries out and some mud is exposed you see Wood Sandpiper, Red-kneed Dotterel and you have good chances of seeing Spotless Crake, Australian Spotted Crake and Baillon's Crake on the edge of the typha on the far side. More

The following is a photograph of a Freckled Duck at Herdsman Lake in Perth in December 2001. The following is a photograph of a Freckled Duck at Herdsman Lake in Perth in January 2003. More

Results 1 - 3 from 3 for freckled duck in 0.133 sec. Keeping Marsupials : Keeping and Breeding Marsupials in Captivity, Maintaining Injured and Orphaned Wildlife in Captivity, Animal Husbandry, Australian Marsupials, Australian Mammals, Marsupial Conservation We worked quickly to relocate or put sprinkler systems on for Regent Honeyeaters, Corroboree Frogs, Freckled Ducks and other high priority species. Fires continued to build up just over the ridgelines that ... More

Freckled Duck - Namoi: Distribution and vegetation associations in the Namoi = Scientific name: Stictonetta naevosa Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable Distribution of the species within this region The Freckled Duck is known or predicted to occur in the following sub-regions of the Namoi Catchment Management Region: CMA sub-region Known or predicted to occur Geographic restrictions within region Castlereagh-Barwon Known More

Picture of Stictonetta naevosa above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike.
Original source: BS Thurner Hof
Author: BS Thurner Hof
Permission: Some rights reserved
Order : Anseriformes
Family : Anatidae
Genus : Stictonetta
Species : naevosa
Authority : (Gould, 1841)