COMMON NAMES: Grey Duck, Pacific Black Duck; German Augenbrauenente

TRADITIONAL NAMES: Mokorā Rere-vao (RR), Mokorā [?complete name] (MG), Mokorā Taetaevao (AT), Mokorā Vairau (MK MT), Mokorā Rau-vai (AK), Mokolā Vai (TS), Mokorā Vai (TW), Toloa (PK)

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE Indonesia / Australia - French Polynesia; s. to new Zealand (3 subspecies)

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native, Resident Breeder; Land-freshwater, ponds - streams, breed on land

SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Food

KEY FEATURES: Duck to 55cmL. Sexes alike. ADULTS dark brown body and nape with pale throat; head pale with black strips over head, through eye and at base of bill; wings brown above, white beneath, speculum green with black leading edge and black then white rear edge; feet and legs green-brown. NESTING September-December, 6-12 eggs, female incubates ~5 weeks; young can fly at ~8 weeks; breed at one year, typically live 2 years.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos, not presently recorded in the Cooks) female with less contrasted markings on head (vs. male and female head marked back and cream); both with blue speculum edges banded black-and-white (vs. green, front-edge black, back-edge banded black and white); male with glossy dark green head and neck (vs. as for female); legs and feet orange (vs. green-brown). HYBRIDS have less contrast on face and yellowish-brown legs and feet.