Australian Wood Duck

This 45–51 cm (18–20 in) duck looks like a small goose, and mostly feeds by grazing in flocks. The male is grey with a dark brown head, mottled breast, and very thin, white-and-black stripes on sides/flanks. The female has white stripes above and below the eye and mottled underparts. Both sexes have grey wings with black primaries and a white speculum. Juveniles are similar to adult females, but lighter and with a more streaky breast.

The Australian wood duck is widespread in Australia, including Tasmania. It is found in grasslands, open woodlands, wetlands, flooded pastures, and along the coast in inlets and bays. It is also common on farmland with dams, as well as around rice fields and sewage ponds and in urban parks. It often is found around deeper lakes that may be unsuitable for other waterbirds' foraging, as it prefers to forage on land. It has been recorded as a vagrant in New Zealand, although in 2015 and 2016, a pair successfully bred there. The species has been introduced to western Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Australian wood ducks nest in cavities in trees or in nest boxes above or near water. They are lined with a pile of down. This duck lays 9–11 cream-white eggs, similar to the Mandarin ducks. The female incubates them while the male stands guard. Once the ducklings are ready to leave the nest, the female flies to the ground and the duckling leap to the ground and follow their parents. The males also secure their ducklings closely along with the females.

Chenonetta: Greek: χην khēn, χηνος khēnos "goose"; νηττα nētta "duck". jubata: Latin: iubatus "maned, crested", from iuba "mane, crest"