Crested Duck
Lophonetta specularioides
A distinctive, rather large duck that is common in wetlands, lakes, bogs, slow-moving rivers, and along seacoasts. Sexes look alike: grayish brown overall with bold pale dappling on sides of body, a darker face, and a short bushy crest (often hard to see); bill and legs dark gray. In flight, note the big white panel on the trailing edge of the wing (similar to Flying Steamer-Duck, which is heavier bodied and is rarely seen in flight). Eyes typically reddish in Patagonia and orangish in northern Andes.
Identification
The crested duck is a medium-sized waterfowl species, with adult males reaching up to just over a kilogram. Males and females look similar, with males having a slightly more prominent crest than females. The feathers of the mantle, back and scapulars are dark brown with pale centers, giving a mottled appearance. The abdomen, flanks and tail coverts are light gray, with the tail itself being distinctly elongated and black. The upperwing is gray brown to light brown, with the secondaries having an iridescent coppery to greenish sheen, with a broad back band behind, narrowly edged with white. Juveniles are similar but lack crests, have light brown faces, and paler abdomens than adults.
Taxonomy
Genus: Lophonetta; Family: Anatidae; Order: Anseriformes.
- Scientific name
- Lophonetta specularioides
- Authority
- (King, PP, 1828)
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Lophonetta
Range and habitat
Crested ducks are endemic to South America. The two subspecies occupy different elevations in the Andes, with Lophonetta s. alticola occurring from 2,500–4,800 metres (8,200–15,700 ft) from Peru to central Chile and Lophonetta s. specularioides occurring below 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) in the southern Andes near Patagonia and the Falkland Islands. The two subspecies co-occur in a zone of intermediate elevational habitats in Mendoza, Argentina and Talca, Chile.<p>The crested duck is found in lakes, marshes, and grassy areas from shallow coastal bays to high elevation lakes. In the Altiplano, they gather in turbid, alkaline lakes with large concentrations of zooplankton. They reside in sheltered bays and on beaches along the coast, where they forage for clams and other marine amphipods among rocks and kelp beds
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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