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Pink-eared DuckAlternate name(s): "Zebra Duck", "Pink-eyed Duck", "Widgeon", "Whistling Teal"  Aboriginal name(s): "wilidhubaay" [yuwaalaraay, yuwaalayaay];
"wiRinut" [tjapwurrung];
"wimbin" (WA)Size: 38-45 cm; wing span 58-72 cm Weight: 275-480 g |
Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
The sex of the birds shown below was not determined by any distinguishing features, but by their behaviour. They were found resting in the same spot on multiple occasions over the course of weeks, and the location turned out to be close to a nest, presumably with a female in it, at Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, shown below.
Close-up frontal view of a, presumably male, Pink-eared Duck looking
sideways; note the characteristic pink spot behind the eye
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, July 2022]
Close-up near-frontal view of a male(?) Pink-eared Duck
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
Near-lateral view of a male(?) Pink-eared Duck
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, July 2022]
Close-up lateral view of a male(?) Pink-eared Duck
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
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FEMALE |
Close-up view of a female Pink-eared Duck in its nest
inside a tree hollow
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
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PAIR |
Frontal and near-frontal view of a pair of Pink-eared Ducks
[Warialda, NSW, April 2017]
Near-frontal and near-lateral view of a pair of Pink-eared Ducks
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gratton, QLD, August 2017]
Near-frontal and lateral view of a pair of Pink-eared Ducks
[Whittaker's Lagoon, near Moree, NSW, June 2012]
Lateral and dorsal view of two Pink-eared Ducks
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2016]
Dorsal view of a pair of Pink-eared Ducks
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Whittaker's Lagoon, near Moree, NSW, June 2012]
Pair of Pink-eared Ducks low in flight
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Whittaker's Lagoon, near Moree, NSW, June 2012]
Sex unknown |
Close-up lateral view of a Pink-eared Duck
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gratton, QLD, August 2017]
Lateral view of a Pink-eared Duck
[Tiger Bay Wetlands, Warren, NSW, December 2016]
The high-resolution version of this near-dorsal view of a Pink-eared
Duck clearly shows the sieve on the side of its bill that enables the
typical filter-feeding (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, Bayswater, Perth, WA, November 2015]
Near-dorsal view of a preening Pink-eared Duck
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, Bayswater, Perth, WA, November 2015]
Dorsal view of a Pink-eared Duck, with the characteristic pink spot
clearly visible
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2016]
Four Pink-eared Ducks having a snooze together with three
Grey Teals;
note that no pink dots are visible - we do not know whether this
is to be expected; the photo was taken at the end of the breeding
season
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2011]
Pink-eared Ducks resting on a partially submerged tree on the edge of a
water storage dam
[Old Quipolly Dam, Quirindi, NSW, December 2013]
Pink-eared Ducks resting in close proximity to several other
species of aquatic birds; they formed part of a flock of about 250
birds in total
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2011]
Size comparison of a Pink-eared Duck with an
Australasian Shoveler
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]
Pair of Pink-eared Ducks taking off from a
semi-permanent
waterhole
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Whittaker's Lagoon, near Moree, NSW, June 2012]
Frontal view of a flock of Pink-eared Ducks in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2011]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Pink-eared Duck - note
the bird's pale appearance of the darker parts of the
plumage
and the absence of a pink ear spot
[40 km S of Mungindi, NSW, January 2023]
Frontal view of a Pink-eared Duck with 3 juveniles
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]
Close-up lateral view of a Pink-eared Duck with 3 juveniles
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]
Close-up lateral view of a Pink-eared Duck resting with 3 juveniles
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]
Close-up near-dorsal view of a pair of Pink-eared Ducks with 3 juveniles
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]
Close-up lateral view of a Pink-eared duckling
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2016]
Pair of Pink-eared Ducks making sure that a
Great Crested Grebe
does not get too close to their chicks
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]
Pair of Pink-eared Ducks making sure that a pair of
Great Crested Grebes
does not get too close to their chicks
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]
Lateral view of a Pink-eared Duck with four ducklings
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, January 2015]
Pair of Pink-eared Ducks with four ducklings
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, March 2022]
8 Pink-eared ducklings all trying to fit under one parent bird
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]
Family of Pink-eared Ducks
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Pink-eared Duck duckling with its "mate", an equally young
Australian Wood Duck duckling
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne); click on photo to see who is swimming ahead
of them
Dorsal view of a Pink-eared Duck with six ducklings
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2016]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Aug - Nov | Eggs: 6 - 8 | Incubation period: 26 days | Fledging age: N/A |
Pink-eared Ducks breed mostly in the south-eastern quarter (inland, west of the Great Dividing Range, mostly to the East of the NSW/SA border) and in the south-western corner of the Australian continent. Although Pink-eared Ducks preferably breed in the southern spring, they can in principle breed any time of the year, usually after a big rain event (usually after floods, when the water starts receding).
Like other ducklings, young Pink-eared Ducks are precocial, leaving their nest at a young age, to be led by their mother until they can fly.
| Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Female |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Basket | Material: Downy feathers | Height above ground: 0.5 - ? m |
Usually the nest will be in an open hollow, usually in the trunk of an old, dead tree, less exposed than the nest shown here. The only material used is an abundance of feathers that can totally cover the eggs.
Overview of a Pink-eared Duck nest in the hollow trunk of a tree,
not far above the water line
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2022]
Overview of a male(?) Pink-eared Duck resting near its nest in the
tree trunk; click on image for a larger version showing the female
inside the hollow
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
Close-up view of a female(?) Pink-eared Duck in its nest
inside a tree hollow
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
Close-up view into a Pink-eared Duck nest; the downy feathers
completely conceal the eggs
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2022]
Female Pink-eared Duck on its nest, while the male is staying nearby
(photo courtesy of A. Christopher)
[Mooroopna, near Shepparton, VIC, November 2013]
Pink-eared Ducks re-using a
White-necked Heron nest
(photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 50 x 36 mm | Colour: Creamy | Shape: Tapered oval |
One needs to lift the "lid" of this Pink-eared Duck nest
to see at least 6 eggs inside (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: Large flock |
Pink-eared Ducks are often found in flocks, with up to hundreds of birds resting or flying together. They often roost together with other ducks or waders or other species of aquatic birds.
Pink-eared Ducks can often be seen going around each other in circles,
presumably to create a vortex to trap prey
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, April 2021]
Flock of Pink-eared Ducks on the edge of an
irrigation farm dam
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Frontal view of a flock of Pink-eared Ducks in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2011]
Ventral view of Pink-eared Ducks in in a mixed flock with
Grey Teals
[Burren Junction, NSW, January 2016]
Birds are creatures of habit: This family of Pink-eared Ducks
was observed crossing the footpath on their way from one part
of a lake to another several days in a row, always at the same
time
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]
Many, mostly land-based, bird species have a staggered moult of their wing feathers, thus ensuring that at any one point in time only a few feathers are missing, which enables them to continue flying throughout a moult.
Other, mostly aquatic, bird species that live in habitats in which they are safe from predators, allow themselves the luxury of a quicker, more radical moult, in which basically all flight feathers are replaced at once. Such a full wing moult will render birds flightless for a number of weeks.
Pink-eared Duck in full wing moult, rendering the bird flightless
for a while - here one can see the gap left by the missing flight
feathers (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, October 2017]
Pink-eared Duck in full wing moult stretching its wings, thereby
exposing the quills of the new feathers
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, October 2017]
We have seen Pink-eared Ducks associating with Grey Teals on several occasions (see e.g. above the photos of flocks in flight).
Occasionally, we have observed Pink-eared Duck swimming in two parallel lines in opposite directions, then often paddling in circles around one another in pairs. This may have been a way to create waves or eddies while filter-feeding.
Pink-eared Ducks first swimming in parallel lines in opposite
directions, then circling around each other in pairs while
filter-feeding
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2016]
Even birds usually living in flocks, such as Pink-eared Ducks,
sometimes need to settle disputes; here two are displaying a
threatening posture before a fight broke out
[Yarrie Lake, NSW, October 2016]
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Food, Diet |
Pink-eared Ducks are specialists in collective filter-feeding;
by swimming in circles they create vortices in which material is
trapped that they then take in (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gratton, QLD, August 2017]
Pink-eared Ducks have two basic feeding techniques; "vortexing",
as also shown above...
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
... and just filter-feeding, here collectively in a straight line
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
Pink-eared Ducks seen filter-feeding
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2016]
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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.
| pnkduck_20140728_4.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Contact call | © MD | |
| pnkduck_20140424.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Contact calls | © MD | |
| pnkduck_20151222.m4a | (NW NSW) | Arrival & contact calls (Q&A) + Red-necked Avocet | © MD | |
| pnkduck_20140711.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Warning call (human) & reply | © MD | |
| pnkduck_20140728_3.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Arrival | © MD | |
| pnkduck_20141206.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Various | © MD | |
| pnkduck_20170508.mp3 | (NW NSW) | ? | © MD | |
| pnkduck_20140728_2.mp3 | (NW NSW) | ? | © MD | |
| pnkduck_20141206_2.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Mixed flock (with Red-necked Avocet) | © MD |
More Pink-eared Duck sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.