- Tachyeres patachonicus
Identification
A large duck (length 68cm). Overall mottled gray and brown, with reddish-brown chin and conspicuous white eye-line that extends down the back of the neck. Legs and feet are yellow. Underparts white. Male has bill that is orange-yellow at the base, gray at the tip, with a large dark nail; head gets gradually paler grey as the bird gets older. The female is slightly darker overall with a bill that is mostly greenish-grey and more greenish yellow at base than the male; her head is darker brownish than the male.
Similar Species
All the Steamerducks are very similar in appearance. The Flightless Steamerduck and Falkland Steamerduck are larger, only found in salt water, and do not fly.
Distribution
Southern South America: found on the coasts of south Chile, Argentina and Falkland Islands.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Inland waters and sea coast.
Behaviour
Travels in pairs or small groups.
References
- Clements, JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019
- Alvaro Jaramillo. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton Field Guides. ISBN 0-691-11740-3
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Flying Steamer-Duck. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Flying_Steamer-Duck
