ANATIDAE - Duck, Swan,

0789 Pacific Back Duck

Pacific Black Duck - Anas superciliosa Pacific Black Duck - Anas superciliosa This is one of the most widespread and abundant ducks in Australia. Their flight is strong, swift and direct. When disturbed they form a compact flock, gain height rapidly and leave the area. This is a typical surface feeding duck taking both plant and animal food by dabbling, dredging and upending. It also strips seeds from plants and growth along the edge of the water. INFORMATION FROM: Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: January 2007 Hawkesbury River.

0790 The Pacific Black Duck

0795 The Pacific Black Duck 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!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. INFORMATION FROM: Birdlife Australia. IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: January 2007 Hawkesbury River NSW

0800 Swan - cygnus atratus

BLACK SWAN - cygnus atratus. The explorer, George Bass, commenting on the call of the black swan wrote: 'That song, so celebrated by the poets of former times, exactly resembled the creaking of a rusty ale-house sign on a windy day'. The first beat of a swans wing, exposing their flash of white, is the signal for a flock to take flight. They fly about much at night. Black swans are ready to breed at the age of 18 months, and most breed before the end of 3 years. The nest construction may begin just before or, if the nest is on an island, soon after the first egg is laid and may continue for at least 2 or 4 weeks during egg-laying and incubation. INFORMATION: Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017 at Metung, Victoria