# Australian Wood Duck (*Chenonetta jubata*) The Australian Wood Duck is a lovely bird that likes to swim and waddle around. They have pretty brown and grey feathers and can often be seen in parks and wetlands. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Australian Wood Duck](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Australian_wood_duck_-_male.jpg&width=800) Photo: fir0002 flagstaffotos \[at\] gmail.com Canon 20D + Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L, GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Australian_wood_duck_-_male.jpg) ## Appearance The Australian Wood Duck has a distinctive upright posture and a relatively small head. Males feature a dark brown head and neck, a speckled breast, and a grey body. Females are duller, with white stripes above and below their eyes, making them easy to identify. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Chenonetta ## Interesting facts - Despite their name, they are frequently found grazing far from actual forests or woodlands. - Ducklings jump from tree hollows shortly after hatching, landing safely on the ground. - These ducks are more closely related to geese than many other true ducks! - They often perch on fences, logs, or tree branches, unlike most other duck species. ## Special abilities - **Tree Nesting:** Australian Wood Ducks can nest in tree hollows, an unusual trait for ducks, that keeps their eggs safe from ground predators. - **Agile Grazing:** Australian Wood Ducks are excellent grazers, using their strong bills to clip grasses and clover directly from the ground. - **Vertical Takeoff:** Australian Wood Ducks have broad, rounded wings that allow them to take off almost vertically, helping them escape danger quickly. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-51 cm - **Wingspan:** 70-80 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-1 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 8-12 - **Incubation:** 28-32 days ## Diet & Feeding A plant-eater that loves to munch on fresh grasses, seeds, and clover found on land. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, clover, seeds, aquatic plants, grains - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — An introduced predator of eggs and ducklings. - **Eaten by:** Wedge-tailed Eagle (*Aquila audax*) — A large native raptor that preys on adult ducks. - **Eats:** Couch Grass (*Cynodon dactylon*) — A common grass that is a primary food source. - **Eats:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Another widespread plant frequently grazed by these ducks. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch ducks from a distance and don't feed them bread. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Australian Wood Duck? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Australian Wood Duck? 45-51 cm ### What is Australian Wood Duck's wingspan? 70-80 cm ### How much does Australian Wood Duck weigh? 0.7-1 kg ### How long does Australian Wood Duck live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Australian Wood Duck move? 70 km/h ### What does Australian Wood Duck eat? A plant-eater that loves to munch on fresh grasses, seeds, and clover found on land. ### Where is Australian Wood Duck usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Australian Wood Duck: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/australian-wood-duck)