Endemic to New Zealand, this duck with reportedly less than 3,000 in number, has a conservation status of 'nationally vulnerable'. It has benefited from the DOC ongoing recovery programme led by Andrew Glaser. It is the only member of its genus which inhabits the white water of turbulent, fast-flowing rivers and streams, now mostly confined to the high altitude segments of the North and South Island mountain regions where their diet of freshwater insects is especially abundant. Hatched with disproportionately big feet, ducklings are immediately capable of swimming against strong currents. The parent birds are extremely attentive. The female feeds as close as possible to its brood while the drake - the most dutiful male of all duck species - moves from rock to rock keeping constant guard. E... read moreven so, duckling mortality is high. Peak nesting is August to October in hollow logs, tree trunks, clumps of vegetation, rock clefts and cave ledges. The nests are simple heaped collections of all the sticks and grasses within reach, and contain little down. Eggs are creamy white, and laid in clutches of four to nine. The species is particularly secretive, feeding mostly at dawn and dusk spending the rest of the day hidden. Like many of New Zealand's birds, they are under threat from introduced predators such as stoats and rats, as well as reduction of their habitat in some areas.
It is depicted on the reverse side of the New Zealand $10 banknote.
Please Note: Photo 1: used with kind permission of and copyright to Tony Whitehead htt://www.tonywhitehead.com/wildlight/
Please, Note: Photo 2: used with kind permission - Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (Tyronne Smith 2005)
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