Rather uncommon breeding resident inhabiting low country tanks and large ponds covered with weeds and lotus like water plants. It is much common in the dry zone and where it lives as pairs or small to larger flocks. Wet zone records earlier only consist of migrants during the north-east monsoon period though there are recent observations of all the year round and also breeding. It feeds on vegetable stuffs, water insects and molluscs, etc.
Cotton Pygmy-Goose breeds from January to March and again in August. It build its nest in a cavity of a tree growing near tanks and lays 8-12 eggs.
