Photo: Benjamint444 / GFDL 1.2 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Freckled Duck

Stictonetta naevosa

Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australian Capital Territory Ducks, Geese & Swans of New South Wales Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northern Territory Ducks, Geese & Swans of Queensland Ducks, Geese & Swans of South Australia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Tasmania Ducks, Geese & Swans of Victoria Ducks, Geese & Swans of Western Australia

See what's near you right now

The Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 903 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Stictonetta
Species naevosa

Where it lives

Australia (except northern, south-central, Tasmania)

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 903 g
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Freckled Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Freckled Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except n, sc, Tasmania).

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 903 g, with a wing length of about 23.3 cm and a tail of around 6.2 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.9 million km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Freckled Duck?

The Freckled Duck is a very large bird that weighs around 903 g.

Where does the Freckled Duck live?

The Freckled Duck is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except n, sc, Tasmania), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Freckled Duck belong to?

The Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Freckled Duck eat?

The Freckled Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Freckled Duck migrate?

The Freckled Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Freckled Duck endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

How large is the Freckled Duck's range?

The Freckled Duck has a mapped global range of about 5.9 million km².