The hardhead (Aythya australis), also known as the white-eyed duck, is the only true diving duck found in Australia. The common name "hardhead" has nothing to do with the density of the bird's skull, instead referring to the difficulty encountered by early taxidermists in processing the head. Hardheads are found in wetter, coastal regions of Australia, particularly in the south-east, but are known to disperse as far afield as New Guinea, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

Description

Hardheads are smaller than most ducks, with body length typically between . Both sexes are similar in size, ranging with wingspans of . Both male and female are a fairly uniform chocolate-brown above, with rufous flanks and white undersides (which are often not visible if the duck is in the water). The trailing edges and almost the entire underside of the wings are white. In the male, the eyes are a striking white, in the female, brown.

Hardheads prefer larger lakes, swamps and rivers with deep, still water, but are often seen in smaller streams, flooded grasslands, and shallow pools. As a general rule, they avoid coastal waters.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="145px">

File:Aythya australis - Lake Dulverton.jpg|Standing male

File:Aythya australis -Coolart Wetlands, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia -male-8.jpg|Male in flight

</gallery>

References

  • BirdLife Species Factsheet