Endemic to New Zealand, found throughout both the North and South Islands. They inhabit open pastures, farmlands, and wetlands, including lakes, rivers, and estuaries.

Identify by the clear difference between sexes: males are mostly black with chestnut flanks, while females have a bright white head and chestnut body. Listen for their distinctive calls: the male has a deep honk, and the female a higher-pitched 'zee-onk'. They are often seen in pairs or family groups grazing in paddocks near water.

Observable year-round. Breeding typically occurs in spring and summer (August to December in New Zealand), when pairs are more active and vocal.