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Blue-billed DuckAlternate name(s): "Spiny-tailed Duck", "Diving Duck*", "Stiff-tailed Duck", "Little Musk Duck" ![]() Size: 36-44 cm Weight: 0.6-1.2 kg |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Frontal view of a male Blue-billed Duck; note the characteristic
blue bill
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, December 2016]
Near-frontal view of a male Blue-billed Duck
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, December 2016]
Lateral view of a male Blue-billed Duck
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, December 2016]
Lateral view of a male Blue-billed Duck
[Old Quipolly Dam, Quirindi, NSW, April 2012]
Near-dorsal view of a male Blue-billed Duck (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Herdsman Lake, Perth, WA, January 2015]
Male Blue-billed Duck preening
Male Blue-billed Duck resting on a pond
Here the male Blue-billed Duck is posing for his mate
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]
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FEMALE |
Near-frontal view of a female Blue-billed Duck; note how the
dark plumage
looks more speckled than barred compared to the immature birds shown below
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, December 2016]
Near-frontal view of a female Blue-billed Duck with its head turned
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Near-lateral view of a female Blue-billed Duck
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, December 2016]
Lateral view of a female Blue-billed Duck
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Lateral view of a female Blue-billed Duck
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, April 2021]
Female Blue-billed Duck seen preening...
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
... and here scratching its head, exposing one of its black,
webbed feet
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Female Blue-billed Duck resting on a pond
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PAIR |
Female Blue-billed Duck following a male
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Near-lateral view of a Blue-billed Duck; the prominent barring
and pinkish gape suggest that this may be an immature bird
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, December 2016]
Lateral view of a Blue-billed Duck; the prominent barring suggests
that this may be an immature bird
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, December 2016]
Immature(?) Blue-billed Duck flapping its wings
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, December 2016]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Dispersive/sedentary | Elementary unit: Pair |
A male was observed by us "patrolling" a stretch of reeds, paddling both ways, either on open water or in or behind the reeds, as if to protect its territory. The male also repeatedly bobbed its head and tried to impress a female seen by us. If indeed territorial behaviour, Blue-billed Ducks may have been breeding at Narrabri Lake in the breeding season of 2010/11.
Male Blue-billed Duck displaying its tail for a female
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, July 2016]
Male Blue-billed Duck, right, trying to impress a female, left
- first he made a big splash and then dashed across the lake,
to the left, at top speed - here he is seen "revving up"
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, July 2016]
Blue-billed Ducks resting on open water
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, April 2021]
Blue-billed Ducks resting on open water
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, April 2021]
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Food, Diet |
Unlike other geese, ducks and swans, Blue-billed Ducks are not vegetarian. Apart from underwater plants, they also feed on aquatic invertebrates.
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
blubill_20161208_2.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Squabbling (with wing beats) | © MD |
We have also recorded the wing beats of a Blue-billed Duck.
blubill_20161208.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Male display | © MD |
More Blue-billed Duck sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.