Window on the Wetlands

I always wonder about the pale colouring of the Radjah Shelduck. It starts with Shelducks being a group of waterfowl that are considered to be an evolutionary link between geese and true ducks. They belong to the subfamily Tadorninae. Shelducks often have more goose-like features and behaviours, and their plumage often differs from typical ducks. Many shelduck species, globally, incorporate significant amounts of white in their plumage.

The Radjah Shelduck strongly favours mangrove forests, brackish water, and paperbark tree swamps. The pale colouration, particularly the white body, can provide surprisingly good camouflage against the often bright, reflective light on water surfaces, and the stark white of dead mangrove branches or the bark of paperbark trees.

Pygmy-Geese are a fascinating group of waterfowl that, despite their name, are not true geese but are actually the smallest of all wildfowl and belong to a genus (Nettapus) that represents an ancient lineage, possibly related to 'perching ducks' or an earlier Gondwanan radiation of waterfowl. There are only three species globally, with two found in Australia: the Green Pygmy-Goose and the Cotton Pygmy-Goose. 

As their name suggests, the Green Pygmy-goose is tiny! They are among the smallest ducks in the world, typically only 30-38 cm long.

They are highly aquatic and are almost exclusively found in freshwater wetlands with abundant floating vegetation, particularly water lilies, which form a major part of their diet. They prefer still or slow-moving waters like lagoons, swamps, and dams.