Anatidae

Short black bill seems slightly upturned; short orange legs. Nonbreeding: smutty grey-brown above: throat white, upperbreast smutty to blackish, cut off by white underparts; Breeding Plumage: black and white harlequin pattern on head, black patch on white underparts, wings and back red-brown mottled black. Immature: like non-breeding adult but more dusky.

Diurnal, Feeds by grubbing in shallows and margins of wetlands

Coastal, tidal reef and pools, week-covered rocks washed by surf, seaweek-strewn shores; mudflats; occasional inland shallow waters.

June July (Alaska), Non breeding migrants. 5 to 8 eggs; shiny green or brown..Incubation 22-24 days.

Kakadu National Park

Omnivore, Aquatic life and plants.