Blue Duck

About

A medium-sized blue-grey torrent duck with a pale pink bill tipped with a distinctive flap of skin, and chestnut-spotted breast. Endemic to New Zealand's fast-flowing mountain rivers. One of New Zealand's most endangered endemics. Monogamous with strong site fidelity to individual river territories.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	45.6 cm	18.0 in
Weight	861.75 g	30.40 oz

Identification

Plumage

Distinctive slate-blue-gray plumage; breast spotted with chestnut-brown in both sexes. Pale bill with flexible pink lobes at tip. Chestnut eye. Sexes similar; adapted to fast-flowing mountain streams in New Zealand.

Habitat & Range

Fast-flowing clear turbulent mountain rivers and streams in pristine native forest at 300–1,500 m in both main islands of New Zealand. Requires undisturbed riparian habitat with abundant aquatic invertebrates.

🌲 Forest 🌿 Wetland

Geographic Range

Breeds on open prairie wetlands of the Great Plains; winters in shallow estuaries and marshes along the Gulf of Mexico.

Diet & Feeding

Eats aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material; dabbles in shallow fresh water; invertebrate diet peaks in breeding season.

Conservation Status

Endangered

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: CR,CV. Incubation: 31-35 days. Fledging: 70-82 days.

Clutch Size

5-6

Sound

Song

A soft, musical whistle from fast-flowing South Island rivers. Call is a clear 'whio' — giving the bird its Maori name. Also gives a soft, reedy 'squeak'. Endangered; rarely heard.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Family	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Hymenolaimus
Species	Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos

Distribution

Blue Duck has been recorded in 1 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇳🇴 Norway

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Blue Duck eat?

Eats aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material; dabbles in shallow fresh water; invertebrate diet peaks in breeding season.

Where does the Blue Duck live?

Fast-flowing clear turbulent mountain rivers and streams in pristine native forest at 300–1,500 m in both main islands of New Zealand. Requires undisturbed riparian habitat with abundant aquatic invertebrates.

Is the Blue Duck endangered?

The Blue Duck has a conservation status of Endangered.

How does the Blue Duck nest?

Nest type: CR,CV. Incubation: 31-35 days. Fledging: 70-82 days.

What does the Blue Duck sound like?

A soft, musical whistle from fast-flowing South Island rivers. Call is a clear 'whio' — giving the bird its Maori name. Also gives a soft, reedy 'squeak'. Endangered; rarely heard.

How big is the Blue Duck?

The Blue Duck has a wingspan of 45.6 cm, weight of 861.75 g.

What order and family does the Blue Duck belong to?

The Blue Duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.