This pie chart shows the relative likelihood of observing particular other species commonly observed near Oxyura australis

Range and Population:

Oxyura australis occupies permanent deep waters in southern Australia with the population estimated at 10,000 in eastern Australia and 5,000 in western Australia. During autumn and winter the species aggregates in large flocks but disperses to smaller waterbodies when breeding. Aggregations also occur during drought. It is threatened by drainage of deep permanent wetlands, or their degradation as a result of introduced fish, peripheral cattle grazing, salinisation and lowering of ground water. A small number are probably shot by accident during the duck hunting season. The western population is particularly threatened with predictions that rainfall there will fall as temperatures rise. The population estimate, based on 1990 data, may now be lower and this species may qualify as threatened.[1]
Countries:Native:
Australia

[1][1]

Ecology Notes:

List of Habitats:5.5Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)

In sections below, we make some habitat inferences based on the known habitat preferences of those species most commonly associated with Oxyura australis.

Zone:

alpine, subalpine, temperate.

Vegetation:

alpine meadows, cultivated areas, desert, disturbed sites, fields, forest edges, forests, grasslands, hammocks, meadows, pasture, pine forests, subalpine meadows, thickets.

Terrain:

dry slopes, hillsides, mountain slopes, roadsides, sand dunes, streamsides, valleys.

Soil and Rock:

sandy areas, sandy soil.

Water in Area:

brackish water, coastal sand dunes, ditches, dry areas, lakes, marshes, ponds, river banks, rivers, streams, swamps.

Slopes in Area:

hillsides, rocky slopes.