ID Challenge, October 8, 2020 P plate by Sonja Ross
Female ducks can be a bit of a challenge, although we have fewer than the northern hemisphere I think. This one can be seen on either side of the country, mostly in the south. They do occur in suburban areas where there is suitable deeper water habitat.
Solution:
Again, well done everyone who had a go at the id as everyone ended up with the correct one: a female Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis .
Several people commented on the tail, which is the reason this species, and Musk Ducks in Australia, are known as stiff-tailed ducks. There are also others overseas, and I saw Lake Ducks in southern Chile which are very similar to Blue-billed Ducks.
The bill is the important distinguishing feature to determine that it isn’t a female Musk Duck. Their bills are more squat, and I think they are slightly darker, but that possibly depends on the light. The second photo show a female Musk Duck so that it is easier to compare bills.
The other duck mentioned was Freckled, which do have similar colouring, but their head shape is different, having more of a peak at the back, and their bill is more slender with a scooped look. It also tends to have a bit more colour. That’s two Freckled Ducks in the next photo.
Height in the water was mentioned, and the two species, Blue-billed and Musk, that is, do tend to sit lower in the water than other ducks, but I think the water was probably brackish or even salt, so they would float higher than normal.
The males of both these species display to impress the females, and the last photo shows a male Blue-billed Duck stirring up the water in his display. The male Musk Duck in the second photo is also displaying, and they visibly use their feet as well as showing off the lobe under the bottom of their bill. Naturally bigger is better!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See more pics here: https://ebird.org/species/blbduc1/
These beauties are classified as Endangered in Victoria, and rare in SA. Learn about them here: https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/blue-billed-duck
Women Birders Australia 