2013 $1 Australian Bird Shelduck PNC

The Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides) is a large and beautiful bird. Although it is also known as the Mountain Duck, it prefers saline or brackish water in lowland areas and large lakes. This species inhabits Australia's more southerly regions, although in Western Australia it can be observed as far north as Port Hedland. During breeding, the female will usually lay her eggs in a hole in a tree, often metres above the ground, while the male establishes a territory upon which the young birds will be reared.