Green Pygmy-goose
Female, Wurruma Swamp June 2023.
These birds are extremely shy and have been on my “must get good photos of” list for a few years now and sadly remain on it. To get nice close photos you really have to hope for good light, that they do not see you and then swim in close. As soon as they get a glimpse of a human they take off.
Female, Wurruma Swamp June 2023.
They get their name from their glossy green back, a feature that is not always readily visible. On this day however in some great light the green was striking.
The first time I noticed them was back in May of 2020 during a very early morning foggy visit to Wurruma Swamp. They love tropical lakes and lagoons with water vegetation like waterlilies. Primary food sources are seeds and buds of waterlilies. They dive for weeds and aquatic plants.
Female, Wurruma Swamp June 2023.
They are quite small at about 340 - 380mm and live almost entirely on the water.
Female, Wurruma Swamp June 2023.
Eyes are dark brown . The bill is short, grey-breen above the tip and pink below the tip. The face has a white cheek patch and a small white patch in front of the eye.
Female, Wurruma Swamp June 2023.
The breast, belly and flanks are grey, finely barred green-brown. The upper wings are grey-green with iridescent green highlights and a white panel through the secondary feathers.
From left to right: Male and female in flight, Wurruma Swamp June 2022.
Flight is low and swift with whistling wingbeats. They are usually found in pairs and are extremely aggressive to other birds.
Male on the right, Wurruma Swamp June 2023.
The easiest way to identify the male and female is by the neck. The male has the wrap around green on the neck. The female is slightly smaller than the male.
Female, Wurruma Swamp June 2023.