Freckled duck

Stictonetta naevosa

Sproeteneend / Püncktchenente / Canard moucheté d'Australie

The freckled duck has a distinctive appearance: it is a dark greyish-brown duck with a large head that is peaked at the rear, and a distinctive narrow and slightly upturned bill. The dark brown plumage is evenly freckled all over with white or buff. During the breeding season the male's bill becomes crimson at the base. The freckled duck is a filter feeder, using its typical bill to forage up-end in shallow water and also dabbles and nibbles along the shore.

This species has been recorded from wetlands across southern Australia, with major concentrations in the Paroo-Warrego catchment (Currawinya Lakes), Eyre-Georgine-Mulligan catchment (Lake Torquinie) and possibly at Lake Galilee. The population is estimated to number 11,000-26,000 individuals, roughly equating to 7,300-17,000 mature individuals.

Although this species may have a small range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be fluctuating, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern by the IUCN.

More information: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/100600365/0

Above: Male Freckled duck

Above: female (left) and male (right)

Above: adult male Freckled duck, at WWT Slimbridge, UK

Above: adult Freckled ducks, at WWT Slimbridge, UK

Above: adult pair of Freckled ducks, at WWT Slimbridge, UK

Above: adult male Freckled duck, at WWT Slimbridge, UK

Above: adult female Freckled duck, at WWT Slimbridge, UK

Above: breeding Freckled duck, at WWT Slimbridge, UK

Above: Freckled ducklings, a few weeks old.