The Blue-billed Duck is a compact diving duck with males having a large scooped bright, light blue bill. Males have a rich deep chestnut plumage overall except the dark head and upper neck and an orange-brown to white area at the centre of the belly. The tail is dark with stiff pointed feather tips and is usually held flat on the surface of the water except when in display. The female has a brown bill with darker plumage than the male and each feather is barred with narrow bands of light brown. The upper tail is black and the chin and throat are speckled black. It is also known as Blue Bill, Stiff Tail, Spinetail and Little Musk Duck.
Rare, breeding resident. Declared Vulnerable in NSW.
Oxyura australis is listed in the following regions:
Canberra & Southern Tablelands | Southern Highlands | Albury, Wodonga | South Coast | Central West NSW | Riverina Murray | Greater Melbourne | Gippsland | South West Western Australia
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Albury Charles Sturt University Fyshwick Sewerage Treatment Plant Isabella Pond Jerrabomberra Wetlands Lake Burley Griffin Central/East Morton National Park Moss Vale Mulligans Flat Stranger Pond Sullivans Creek, Lyneham North Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Tuggeranong Creek to Monash Grassland Upper Stranger Pond West Belconnen Pond Wingecarribee Local Government Area Wodonga Wonga Wetlands Yerrabi PondSurvey points
JER570: JWs - Kellys Swamp South