Hardhead: The Only True Diving Duck in Australia!

Hardhead, scientifically called Aythya australis and also known as White-eyed duck is very common in southern and eastern part of Australia. In fact Hardhead duck is the only true diving duck in Australia and are nomadic in nature.

Migration

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They travel far away from their homeland and migrate to other places during adverse climatic conditions. While it was already researched that they can migrate from Australia to New Zealand or as far as New Guinea, recently they have been found in lakes and rivers in and near Bangalore city in India.

Food

Hardhead ducks survive by feeding on aquatic creatures and they can dive under water for as long as one minute to catch its prey. They can glide underwater too easily while lowering their head and providing a thrust with their feet.

Habitat

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Hardhead ducks lives generally in lakes, rivers and swamps with deep water and they look for their prey under water and rest near flooded grasslands. Like most of the other ducks they never come to land or rest on trees.

Appearance

Hardhead ducks may range from 45 cm to 60 cm in size and male as well as female have chocolate brown color above.