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Australian Wood Duck (common) |
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Australian Wood Duck  The Australian Wood Duck or Maned Duck, Chenonetta jubata, is a dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia. It is the only living species in the genus Chenonetta. Traditionally placed in the Anatinae (dabbling duck) subfamily, it might actually belong to the Tadorninae (shelduck) subfamily (Sraml et al. 1996); possibly, the Ringed Teal is its closest living relative (Johnson & Sorenson 1999).
Its habitat is lightly wooded swamps and marshes. This abundant duck nests in a tree hole laying 8-12 eggs. The male is grey with a dark brown head and mottled breast. The female has white stripes above and below the eye and mottled underparts. Both sexes have grey wings with black primaries and a white speculum. This 45-51cm duck looks like a small goose, and feeds mostly by grazing. It rarely swims. Related SpeciesThe flightless New Zealand species Chenonetta finschi (Finsch's Duck) which was formerly believed to constitute a monotypic genus (Euryanas) has been determined to belong to Chenonetta (Worthy & Olson 2002). It became extinct before scientists could properly survey the New Zealand avifauna, but possibly as late as 1870 (based on a report of a flightless goose caught in Opotiki, Tennyson 2006).
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