Overview
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands comprise two remote, tropical coral atolls situated in the Indian Ocean approximately 2770 kilometres north–west of Perth. The southern atoll consists of 26 islands and the northern, single horseshoe shaped atoll, North Keeling Island, lies 24 kilometres away.
The White-breasted Waterhen is a waterbird from the Rallidae family, around 30 centimetres in length, with a wide distribution from the Indian subcontinent east through southern China, and most of South-East Asia. The nominate subspecies (Amauronrnis p. phoenicurus) can be found in Australia only on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island. First recorded in the 1990s, the White-breasted Waterhen is now plentiful on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, where it also breeds.
A timid water bird 24-28 centimetres in length. Its upper parts are dark slate-brown with a white face and breast. It has chestnut flanks and undertail coverts. The bill is green or yellow, red at the base, and the legs are yellowish green. Its eyes are deep red. The bird has very large feet and it flies with its legs dangling.
Technical specifications
- Issue date
- 19 September 2023
- Issue withdrawal date
- 1 April 2024
- Denomination
- $1.20 x 1, $2.40 x 1
- Stamp & product design
- Jo Muré, Australia Post Design Studio
- Paper: gummed
- Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phosphor
- Printer
- Southern Impact
- Printing process
- Offset lithography
- Stamp size (mm)
- 37.5 x 26
- Minisheet (mm)
- 135 x 80
- Perforations
- 13.86 x 14.6
- Sheet layout
- Module of 50 (2 x 25 no design)
- FDI Postmark
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands, WA 6799
- FDI withdrawal date
- 18 October 2023
$1.20 Adult foraging
The White-breasted Waterhen frequents freshwater marshes, such as mangroves, reed beds and grasslands. It is often found near small streams and pools where there is dense vegetation. The birds eat seeds, insects and small fish, as well as worms, small snails, and shoots and roots of marsh plants. They forage on the ground.
The stamp and minisheet photographs are by luvbedi/Shutterstock.com
$2.40 Adult and chick
Around six eggs are laid about three times a year in a shallow nest in low-lying vegetation. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the chicks, which are covered in black fluffy down. These omnivorous birds forage singly or in pairs around dense vegetation, shallow water and roadsides.
The stamp photograph is by huanglin/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Shop our stamp collectables
Set of Gummed Stamps:
Set of Cocos (Keeling) Islands: White-breasted Waterhen Gummed Stamps
This set of stamps presents the two stamps from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands: White-breasted Waterhen stamp issue.
Minisheet:
Cocos (Keeling) Islands: White-breasted Waterhen Minisheet
This minisheet is from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands: White-breasted Waterhen stamp issue and presents the two stamps in a natural setting.
First day cover (gummed):
Cocos (Keeling) Islands: White-breasted Waterhen First Day Cover (Gummed)
This Cocos (Keeling) Islands: White-breasted Waterhen gummed first day cover features the two stamps from the stamp issue with first day of issue postmark.
First day cover (minisheet):
Cocos (Keeling) Islands: White-breasted Waterhen First Day Cover (Minisheet)
This Cocos (Keeling) Islands: White-breasted Waterhen minisheet first day cover features the minisheet from the stamp issue with first day of issue postmark.
- Set of Gummed Stamps
- Minisheet
- First day cover (gummed)
- First day cover (minisheet)
Additional collectables:
This content was produced at the time of the stamp issue release date and will not be updated.
