COTTEN PYGMY-GOOSE

    The Cotton Pygmy-Goose is a small duck-like bird with a compact body and a distinctive shape. It has a rounded head, a short neck, and a short, thick bill. The female is duller and differs in having a dark eye-line with a white eyebrow, her chest plumage is mottled. Both sexes have a white wing patch, visible in flight.

Found in various parts of Australia, particularly in the northern and eastern regions, they inhabit freshwater wetlands, including swamps, lagoons, and billabongs. They are also known to inhabit rice fields and other shallow water bodies.

They prefer areas with dense aquatic vegetation, which provides them with cover and a source of food. They can be found in both freshwater and brackish water habitats, often in areas with floating vegetation such as water lilies.

Cotton Pygmy-Geese primarily feed on the seeds, fruits, and vegetation found in and around the water bodies they inhabit. They also consume insects, snails, and other small invertebrates. They are known to feed by diving underwater or by upending their bodies to reach food near the water’s surface.

Cotton Pygmy-Geese typically breeds during the wet season. They build their nests in tree hollows, often high above the ground, near water bodies. The female lays a clutch of 6-10 eggs, and both parents are involved in incubating the eggs and caring for the young.

They are usually seen in pairs or small groups. They are agile swimmers and divers, using their webbed feet to navigate through the water and submerged vegetation. They are generally secretive and shy birds, often taking cover among dense vegetation.

Like many waterfowl species, they can be impacted by habitat loss and degradation due to land development and water management practices.