Pink-eared Duck

Overview

The pink-eared duck is a species of waterfowl found in Australia that is the only living member of the genus Malacorhynchus. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is often referred to by the alternative name zebra duck.

Identification

• Brown back and crown with black and white barred sides.
• White face featuring distinctive black eye patches.
• Large spatulate bill resembling that of an Australasian shoveler, though the bird is smaller at 38–40 cm in length.
• A pink spot in the corner of the black head pattern, which is visible only at close range.

Habitat

Widely distributed throughout Australia, this highly mobile species can appear anywhere there is standing water. It is particularly associated with dry inland regions where annual rainfall rarely exceeds 380 mm.

Diet

The species is dependent on plankton, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects, using its bill to strain minute organisms from the water. Ducks also feed by vortexing, a behaviour where two individuals spin around a central point to concentrate food in a gyrating water column.

Did you know?

This duck is the only member of the order Anseriformes known to have carotenoid pigments in its feathers, which are responsible for the characteristic pink "ear" spot.