Flying Steamer-Duck
Tachyeres patachonicus
A large, heavily built duck that is fairly common along rocky seacoasts and on lakes near the coast; also local and uncommon on larger lakes farther inland. Despite the name, rarely seen in flight; more often seen thrashing through the water like an old paddle steamer boat, hence the name. Male’s bill is mostly orange, while the female’s bill is mostly greenish. Plumage of both sexes is duller gray or brownish gray compared to Flightless Steamer-Duck; the two species sometimes occur together, but Flightless tends to be warier.
Identification
Though they are the smallest of the four Tachyeres species, flying steamer ducks share similar plumage traits with other steamer ducks including brown head and neck feathers with white stripes stretching from their eyes to the napes of their necks, and brown-gray gradient body feathers. Their underbellies are mostly white, and their feet are orange. Female flying steamer ducks have smaller bills relative to males that are orange with black tips, while males have darker gray bills with slight yellow accents. Flying steamer ducks are also sexually dimorphic to the extent that males are heavier but have smaller cranial elements and wingspans than females. Males and females both possess cornified orange carpal knobs on the proximal part of the carpometacarpus bone, and these knobs are used in display as well as interspecies and intraspecies combat by males.<p>Sexual dimorphism can also be observed in the duration and pitch of their various calls, which sound much like grunts. The females’ grunts have been described as lower pitched than the males’ grunts, and usually occur in rapid succession of similar pitch. Males have three distinct grunts that have been described as whistle-like, including a ‘rasping’ grunt, a ‘ticking’ grunt, and a ‘sibilant’ grunt.<p>Flying steamer ducks undergo three molts per annual cycle, and these molts vary widely with geographic location. The wear and degradation on the primary and secondary feathers of observed flying steamer ducks varies depending on the location and flight behavior of the individuals.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Tachyeres patachonicus
- Authority
- (King, PP, 1831)
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Tachyeres
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Nocturnal Curassow
Nothocrax urumutum
This small curassow is entirely warm brown with a bright orange bill, yellow skin above the eye, and gray skin below the eye. True to its name, it is strictly nocturnal and thus extremely difficult to see. It is much more often detected by voice: listen for a low, booming song typically with three notes. With a great deal of effort and luck, a singing individual might be spotted perched in the canopy. Occurs in lowland forest in western Amazonia, where it typically stays in the upper levels, rarely dropping to the ground.
Lesser Green Leafbird
Chloropsis cyanopogon
Male and females are bright green overall, but the male has a black-and-blue throat while the female sometimes shows a slight yellow tinge to the throat. The Lesser Green Leafbird is very similar in appearance to the Greater Green Leafbird, but note that the male Lesser Green Leafbird has a smaller black mask and traces of yellow on the forehead. Lack of blue traces in the wings distinguishes this species from the otherwise similar Blue-winged and Bornean Leafbirds. Inhabits lowland primary and secondary broadleaf evergreen forests, as well as adjacent plantations and large parks. Joins mixed-species foraging flocks, usually in the canopy.
Dwarf Koel
Microdynamis parva
A medium-sized cuckoo of lowland and hill forest. Both sexes have a brown body, thick bill, and white stripe below the red eye. Male has distinctive black cap and black facial stripe. Feeds on fruit in the rainforest canopy. Similar to Long-billed Cuckoo, but Dwarf Koel has a shorter, thicker bill and white stripe on the face. Also from the larger female Pacific Koel by the smaller size and plain brown back. Call, a series of rising, single or double whistled notes.
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