A head-throw, is a common display during courtship. During a head-throw a drake will swim parallel to a female with his crest fully erected as he passes the female, he throws his head back quickly until it reaches his back. Then, he slowly raises his head forward while letting out his frog-like voice. The female responds by either ignoring his postures or accepting it by bobbing and pumping her head. The female may also display her receptiveness by stretching her neck and head just above the water and flattening her tail on the water s surface.
Copulation happens on the water with continuing displays by the courting male.
The drake and female will cease their relationship once the female starts incubating her eggs. The female will make her nest in old hollow trees, old nests left by another bird or man-made nesting boxes. When nest site competition is high they will share a nest with another species. She prepares her cavity by plucking down from her belly and using materials that already exist if she is using an old nest. When she is done making her nest, she will lay seven to fifteen spherical white eggs.