Pink-eared Duck
Malacorhynchus membranaceus
A distinctive species with fine zebra-striped plumage and a long and shovel-shaped bill giving a fang-like appearance. Typically feeds by swimming in tight circles. Like many waterbirds in inland Australia, it moves around a lot, and can be found in very large numbers when conditions are right.
Taxonomy
The pink-eared duck was first described by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801 under the binomial name Anas membranacea. It is the only living member of the genus Malacorhynchus; a closely related, but slightly larger extinct form from New Zealand was described as Scarlett's duck (Malacorhynchus scarletti). This peculiar duck may be most closely related to the shelducks but its relationships are enigmatic. It may be closer to the musk duck and the stiff-tails (Sraml et al. 1996) and, formerly placed in the paraphyletic "perching ducks"; it is in any case not close to the dabbling ducks.<p>This species is the only member of the order Anseriformes known to have carotenoid pigments in its feathers, in the characteristic pink "ear" spot.<p>The pink-eared duck was reportedly known as the New Holland duck by early colonists in Western Australia.
- Scientific name
- Malacorhynchus membranaceus
- Authority
- (Latham, 1801)
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Malacorhynchus
Range and habitat
Widely distributed throughout Australia and highly mobile, these ducks can appear anywhere there is standing water, especially in dry inland regions, where annual rainfall rarely exceeds 15 in (380 mm).
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Brown-capped Vireo
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Rather plain vireo of humid evergreen and pine-evergreen forest in highlands and foothills. Northern populations (Mexico to Nicaragua) look and sound much like Warbling Vireo, but with browner upperparts and a distinctly brown cap. Usually at middle to upper levels in trees, where sings persistently in summer. Southern populations (Costa Rica to South America) have different song and distinct yellowish wash on breast and belly.
Pygmy Antwren
Myrmotherula brachyura
Tiny, very short-tailed antwren of rainforest midstory and lower canopy. Males are yellow with white head and wing bars, and extensive black streaking on the head and back; females are similar to males, but have a red-orange wash on the head and more extensive streaking in the breast. Most common in young rainforest and around forest edges, where often found with mixed species flocks. Commonly detected by its song, an accelerating series of musical notes that rises and drops in pitch at the end.
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