Mammals of Australia

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Cotton Pygmy Geese

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Despite its name, the cotton pygmy goose is actually a small, surface-feeding duck. This bird has a goose-like bill and a white head, neck and underbelly. It is dark glossy green on top and has a narrow breast band. Females have a duller plumage, a dark eye-line stripe and white eyebrows. During the breeding season, males have a black band around the neck base.

The cotton pygmy goose uses large hollows in trees close to the water for nesting. Nests can be lined with grass, rubbish and feathers and clutch sizes range from 6 to 12 eggs. Nesting occurs between November and April. The female incubates and rears the ducklings with some support from the male. Males stay with the female and ducklings for a fortnight, while the female will stay for six months. This species has limited territorial displays, often co-existing peacefully with other nesting pairs in the same area.


Where are they found?
In Australia, the cotton pygmy goose ranges along the eastern coast from NSW to QLD, with a small…
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Ipswich Bird life

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If you have a love for birds, Ipswich is the definitely a place to visit, boasting 277 recorded species of different birds in the Ipswich Area. With such a diverse range of bird-life, it is hard to miss the opportunity to visit and see all different birds in the Ipswich area, ranging from Willy Wagtails that are regular visitors to the backyard gardens to Raptors that can be seen soaring high in the skies above. So pack your camera, your binoculars and grab something to eat, while I take you on a tour of Ipswich Bird life.

There are so many wonderful locations to visit and view this amazing range of bird life in the Ipswich area. There are places where you can relax and enjoy nature within a 2 minute walk to Denmark Hill Conservation Park or a little more adventurous 30 minute drive to White Rock Conservation Area, where you can hike along the 3 km walk to White Rock viewing over a 130 different birds species all in the one location.  There are so many more places in between, to simp…
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Duck - Pacific Black Duck

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Despite being predominantly brown, the Pacific Black Duck has always been known as the ‘black duck’. Its only black plumage is a bold stripe that runs across the bird’s face, from its bill to behind its eye, giving it a distinctively striking pattern. It has been claimed that the duck appears as though it is black when seen at a distance. The species is known as the ‘Grey Duck’ in New Zealand, but as it has barely any grey plumage, this is hardly a more appropriate name!

Description
The Pacific Black Duck is mostly mid-brown in colour, with each feather edged buff. The head pattern is characteristic, with a dark brown line through the eye, bordered with cream above and below and a dark brown crown. The upper wing colour is the same as the back, with a bright glossy green patch in the secondary flight feathers. The white underwing is conspicuous in flight. Young Pacific Black Ducks are similar to the adults in plumage.

Distribution
The Pacific Black Duck is found in all but the most arid r…
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