Related to stifftails this is one of the strangest species
of duck, having a large lobe under the bill of the male, and completely blackish, oily plumage. Endemic
to Australia it is not uncommon, two suspecies are described. The nominate is found in south-west Australia, and
menziesi breeds over a larger area from south-east South Australia to south-west Queensland, including
Tasmania. Another odd characteristic is that males grow in size over several years, and may attain twice the
size of the female.
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