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Green Pygmy Goose - BirdForum Opus

Photo by RMD
Photographed: Nhulunbuy Northern Territory, Australia
Nettapus pulchellus

Identification

34-38cm, Wingspan upto 60cm

  • Conspicuous white panels on upper-wing
  • Bright White Panels contrasting against black undering
  • Barred, Dark-greenish Flanks

Male

  • Short, stubby bill tipped with pink
  • Black Cap
  • Conspicus White patch on cheek.
  • Glossy Dark Green Neck and Upperparts

Female

  • Dull, Faint White Eye-brow
  • Cheek White
Photo by tcollins
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, August 2010

Distribution

South-east Asia and Australasia found from: Sulawesi to Moluccas, New Guinea and tropical northern Australia

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Lagoons, dams, billabongs and swamps.

Behaviour

  • Pairs, small Parties
  • Hide Among Waterlilies
  • Rests on Logs in Water
  • Perches in Trees
  • Seldom Ashore
  • Swims and Dives Strongly
  • Swift

Diet

They are almost entirely vegetarian. Their diet consisting of seeds, aquatic plants stems and leaves, flowers and buds etc.

Breeding

December-March. Nests high in tree hollow, near water. Eggs White-Creamy, 8-12

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2014)

Recommended Citation

External Links

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