Photo: Jason Girvan / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Pink-eared Duck

Malacorhynchus membranaceus

Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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 Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 373 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 Malacorhynchus
Species membranaceus

Where it lives

Australia (except far northeastern, south-central, Tasmania)

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 373 g
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Pink-eared Duck is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

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

The Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except far ne, sc, Tasmania).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 373 g, with a wing length of about 18.4 cm and a tail of around 6.6 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 1.5 million km².

Songs & calls

Pink-eared Duck — Call, wind, gear being moved

Recorded by Nick Talbot Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Pink-eared Duck?

The Pink-eared Duck is a large bird that weighs around 373 g.

Where does the Pink-eared Duck live?

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

What family does the Pink-eared Duck belong to?

The Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Pink-eared Duck eat?

The Pink-eared Duck is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Pink-eared Duck migrate?

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

Is the Pink-eared 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.

What sound does the Pink-eared Duck make?

1 real field recording of the Pink-eared Duck — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Pink-eared Duck's range?

The Pink-eared Duck has a mapped global range of about 1.5 million km².