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Brazilian Merganser - BirdForum Opus

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Mergus octosetaceus
Photo by Photo by babblerboy
Canastra National Park, Brazil, November 2006

Identification

49-56cm

  • Shiny dark-green hood
  • Long crest
  • Dark grey upperparts
  • Light grey breast
  • Whitish belly
  • White wing speculum
  • Long thin black bill
  • Red feet and legs

Female: smaller, shorter bill and crest>br /> Juvenile: mainly black, white throat and breast

Distribution

South-central South America (Paraguai-Paraná drainage system): found in Brazil and Argentina.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Mountainous regions with clean rivers and streams, river rapids and riparian vegetation.

Behaviour

Breeding

They nest in tree cavities, rock crevices, or disused burrows. The clutch of 3-6 eggs are incubated by the female but both parents care for the young.

Diet

The diet includes mainly fish, but also molluscs, insects and their larvae.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Avibase
  3. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links

Retrieved from ‘https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/index.php?title=Brazilian_Merganser&oldid=200074’
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