Freckled Duck - profile

Indicative distribution

Loading map...

Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Stictonetta naevosa

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 18 Mar 2022

Description

The Freckled Duck is a dark, greyish-brown bird with a large head that is peaked at the rear, and a distinctive narrow, slightly up-turned bill. Their dark brownish-black plumage is evenly freckled all over with white or buff. During the winter-spring breeding season, the male’s bill becomes crimson at the base.

Distribution

The Freckled Duck is found primarily in south-eastern and south-western Australia, occurring as a vagrant elsewhere. It breeds in large temporary swamps created by floods in the Bulloo and Lake Eyre basins and the Murray-Darling system, particularly along the Paroo and Lachlan Rivers, and other rivers within the Riverina. The duck is forced to disperse during extensive inland droughts when wetlands in the Murray River basin provide important habitat. The species may also occur as far as coastal NSW and Victoria during such times.

Habitat and ecology

Prefer permanent freshwater swamps and creeks with heavy growth of Cumbungi, Lignum or Tea-tree. During drier times they move from ephemeral breeding swamps to more permanent waters such as lakes, reservoirs, farm dams and sewage ponds.
Generally rest in dense cover during the day, usually in deep water. Feed at dawn and dusk and at night on algae, seeds and vegetative parts of aquatic grasses and sedges and small invertebrates.
Nesting usually occurs between October and December but can take place at other times when conditions are favourable.
Nests are usually located in dense vegetation at or near water level.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Draining and clearing of wetland and swamp habitat.
Changes to natural river flows and flood patterns as a result of dams, weirs and irrigation.
Grazing and trampling of wetland habitat by grazing stock or vertebrate pests.
Illegal shooting.
Lack of knowledge about the distribution of breeding activity.
Too frequent or intense burning reduces habitat quality.
Predation and disturbance by foxes, pigs and cats.
Simplification of breeding and foraging habitat structure caused by weeds.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Retain and protect wetlands and maintain a natural density of riparian and wetland vegetation.
Retain or reintroduce ecologically sustainable water flows to swamp, wetland and creek habitat.
Provide stock watering points away from wetlands.
Fence swamps and wetlands to protect from domestic stock.
Report illegal shooting of Freckled Ducks to the DPE.

Information sources

Marchant, S. and Higgins P.J. (Eds) (1990) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 1: Ratites to Ducks. (Oxford University Press, Melbourne)
Pringle, J.D. (1985) The Waterbirds of Australia. (Angus and Robertson Publishers, Sydney)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Moonie-Barwon Interfluve	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Narrandool	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Talbragar Valley	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range Outwash	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Mootwingee Downs	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Scopes Range	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Bulloo	Known	None
Channel Country	Bulloo Dunefields	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Central Depression	Known	None
Channel Country	Core Ranges	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Sturt Stony Desert	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Barnato Downs	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Boorindal Plains	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Canbelego Downs	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Lachlan Plains	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Nymagee	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Culgoa-Bokhara	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Great Darling Anabranch	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Louth Plains	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Menindee	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Pooncarie-Darling	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Warrambool-Moonie	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Wilcannia Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Cuttaburra-Paroo	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Kerribree Basin	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Nebine Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo Overflow	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo-Darling Sands	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Urisino Sandplains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Plains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Sands	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	West Warrego	Known	None
Mulga Lands	White Cliffs Plateau	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	Darling Depression	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
Nandewar	Inverell Basalts	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Nandewar Northern Complex	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Peel	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Armidale Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Bundarra Downs	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Deepwater Downs	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Eastern Nandewars	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Glenn Innes-Guyra Basalts	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Moredun Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Nightcap	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Severn River Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Tingha Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Yarrowyck-Kentucky Downs	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Inland Slopes	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	None
Other State	ACT	Known	None
Other State	Jervis Bay Territory	Predicted	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
Riverina	Lachlan	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Fans	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Scroll Belt	Known	None
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	None
Riverina	Robinvale Plains	Known	None
Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields	Strzelecki Desert	Known	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Known	None
South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bathurst	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bungonia	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Capertee Uplands	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Crookwell	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Hill End	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Monaro	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Murrumbateman	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Oberon	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Orange	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Burragorang	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Cumberland	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Moss Vale	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Sydney Cataract	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Predicted	None