The hardheads are back

Hardheads (Aythya australis) are a species of duck distributed over Australia and some of the Pacific. They are also known as White-eyed Ducks for the males’ appearance. The female bird has a brown eye. The white under-tail is a diagnostic feature of the species (see photo). Hardheads are grouped in the sub-family Aythyinae which include all the birds known as diving ducks.

Ducks in this group feed in deep water, diving down for long periods of time to collect water weeds and small aquatic creatures. In times of drought Hardheads will travel long distances to find suitable deep, still water. Hardheads have not been common in the district for some years but with a lot of wetland billabongs and farm dams flooding in recent times, Hardheads have turned up in numbers to feed in the deeper waters.

They will never be called a disco duck though. The placement of their legs on their body that makes them excellent divers renders them awkward on land.