Hardhead
Aythya australis
Also known as: White-Eyed Duck, Australian White-Eyed Duck, Australian White-Eye
About This Species
Look for a dark, stocky diving duck on inland lakes, swamps, and reservoirs, distinguished by its white eye and the pale wing bar visible in flight. It dives frequently for aquatic plants and invertebrates and often rafts up with other diving ducks well away from shore. Numbers build noticeably after inland rains fill temporary wetlands, and cooler months often bring larger concentrations.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Watching rafts of diving ducks from a fixed distance on the shoreline, rather than approaching by boat, avoids repeated forced dives that drain the birds' energy reserves.
- Waterbird protections and hunting regulations vary across its Australian range and change seasonally, so check current local rules before any activity near a wetland.
- Keeping dogs leashed and away from the water's edge near resting flocks also reduces unnecessary disturbance.
LCAvesAnseriformesAnatidae
Seasonal Activity
320,208 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
Photo
(c) Leo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.