Common Name
Australian Wood Duck
Comment
Very common in cleared land.
Stronghold population
False
Regionally significant/rationale
False
Restricted distribution/rationale
False
Local distribution
Common and widespread in grasslands, wooded lands and terrestrial wetlands throughout Gold Coast
Known location
Upper Mudgeeraba, Coomera, Hope Island, Reedy Creek, Springbrook, Eagleby, Gilston, Guanaba, Bahrs S
Other locality
Very common on pastures and other cleared land; a beneficiary of clearing that is increasing in numbers. Found wherever there is short grass and still fresh water. One of the two most common ducks in the Gold Coast
General ecology
Grassland, pasture, lawns, parks, fringes of freshwaters.
Specific ecology
Short grass and water nearby.
Habitat comment
This duck is a beneficiary of forest clearing. Its favoured habitat, short grassland, would have been very scarce on the Gold Coast prior to European settlement, and this duck would have been scarce or absent. It has exploded in numbers in recent years, and tame wood ducks can often be seen in parks. They are rarely seen in natural habitats on the Gold Coast.
Management
Of low conservation significance.
