These dabbling ducks are endemic to Australia and are widespread throughout the continent, including Tasmania, they are the only living species in the genus Chenonetta. Their habitats are grasslands, open woodlands, wetlands, flooded pastures and along the coast in inlets and bays. They are also common on farmland with dams, as well as around rice fields, sewage ponds and in urban parks, they have benefited greatly from the creation of dams and irrigated crops on farmlands.
They eat grasses, clover and other herbs, and occasionally, insects. They are not a swimming duck and are rarely seen on open water, preferring to forage by dabbling in shallow water or grazing on shorter grasses around it.
The sexes are markedly different, in the accompanying photo the female is on the left, and they form monogamous breeding pairs that stay together year round. The nest is in a tree cavity above or near water and often re-used. Like most ducks they lay a large number of eggs, in this case 9-11, which the female incubates while the male stands guard.