We can ID this duck as a Blue Duck by its chestnut spotted breast, overall dark slate-grey color, pinkish-white bill with a black tip and yellow eyes. The male is more chestnut spotted on the breast than the female. Thus, in the first photo the male is on the right and the female on the left.
The Blue Duck is endemic to New Zealand. It is the only member of the genus Hymenolaimus.
These adult Blue Ducks have are watching over several of their ducklings.
The Blue Duck is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 735.
