Hardhead

The common name "hardhead" has nothing to do with the density of the bird's skull, instead referring to the difficulty encountered by early taxidermists in processing the head. are known to disperse as far afield as New Guinea, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. Hardheads are smaller than most ducks, with body length typically between 42–59 cm (17–23 in). Both sexes are similar in size, ranging 525–1,100 g (18.5–38.8 oz) with wingspans of 65–70 cm (26–28 in). (Wikipedia, general species account).

The hardhead (Aythya australis), also known as the white-eyed duck, is the only true diving duck found in Australia. Hardheads are found in wetter, coastal regions of Australia, particularly in the south-east. Like the other members of the pochard group, hardheads feed by diving deeply, often staying submerged for as long as a minute at a time. They eat a broad range of small aquatic creatures, and supplement this with water weeds. (Wikipedia, general species account).