Torrent Duck
Merganetta armata
An amazing duck of fast-flowing Andean rivers and streams. Usually seen as singles or pairs resting on rocks in rushing water and not associating with other ducks. Feeds by diving in churning water and pools and is somehow able to swim up-current with no apparent exertion. Sexes look quite different, but both have a bright red bill and striped back; male has a white head with black lines, while female has a gray head and bright rusty underparts. Body pattern of male varies regionally from black overall to striped with whitish or rusty.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Merganetta armata
- Authority
- Gould, 1842
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Merganetta
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Stipiturus ruficeps
Tiny buff-brown bird with enormously long, fine tail, found in arid parts of inland Australia. Crown a clean, rich brown, with streaked back, wings, and cheek; underparts buffy brown. Males have a sky-blue throat and upper breast. Tail is much longer and far more spindly than tail of fairywrens. The trick to finding this shy species is to find large unburned patches of spinifex, listening carefully for the species’ very thin, faint calls.
California Thrasher
Toxostoma redivivum
Long-tailed with long, slender bill that is sharply downcurved. Drab grayish-brown without any markings. Paler on throat; warmer orangey color on belly. Often hard to see when lurking in dense shrubs. Sings from prominent perches. Song is seemingly endless and complex. Forages primarily on the ground. Range restricted to dense brush and woodland in California and Baja California.
White-plumed Antbird
Pithys albifrons
Striking and unmistakable with a rich rusty body, a gray back, a black face, orange legs, and noticeable spiky white facial plumes. Fairly widespread and reasonably common in the lowlands of northern South America, east of the Andes. Most often seen in the vicinity of army ant swarms, perching on vertical branches or vines close to the ground. Listen for harsh descending “churr” calls that might be a clue that there’s an ant swarm nearby.
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