The Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus) is a small perching duck which breeds in India and southeast Asia and south to northern Australia.

It is largely resident, apart from dispersion in the wet season, but Chinese birds winter further south. It nests in tree holes, laying 8-15 eggs.

The habitat is still freshwater lakes, where this neat duck feeds on seeds and other vegetation, especially water lilies.

This species has a short bill, rounded head and short legs. The breeding male has white neck, head and underparts, and green crown, back and breast band. In flight, the wings are green with a white band, making the male conspicuous even amongst the huge flying flocks of the Lesser Whistling Duck, which share the habitat.

The eclipse male is duller, particularly on the underparts, which are greyish. Females and young birds also have greyish head and neck, and the female in flight has browner wings with only a narrow strip of white.

This is an abundant species in Asia, although the slightly larger Australian race appears to be declining in numbers.

References

• Wildfowl by Madge and Burn, ISBN 0-7470-2201-1
• Birds of Goa (video)