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

Distribution

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

Taxonomy

Monotypic

Habitat

Lagoons, dams, billabongs and swamps

Behaviour

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

Breeding

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

References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Green Pygmy Goose. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 10 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Green_Pygmy_Goose

External Links

Search for photos of Green Pygmy Goose in the gallery

• View more images of this species on the ABID