From Opus

Photo by rdavis
Saunder's Island, Falkland Islands, January 2011

Lophonetta specularioides

Anas specularioides

[edit] Identification

• Large
• Short crest produces a specific head shape when seen from the side
• Pale brown
• Flanks have marbled appearance
• Red iris in nominate, orange to yellow in alticola
• Bill dark gray
• Grey legs
• Wings with white speculum, in front of that a black stripe, and in front of that a violet band

[edit] Distribution

South America: found in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

Lophonetta specularioides has two subspecies:¹

• L. s. alticola

• Andes of Peru and Bolivia to north-western Argentina and Chile

• L. s. specularioides

• Central Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego and Falkland Islands.

[edit] Habitat

Mostly freshwater, lakes and ponds; in the south at sea level but in northern populations in Andean highland wetlands and lakes. Altitudinal migrant in some areas.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The diet includes algae and invertebrates.

[edit] Breeding

It builds its nest in shrubs near to water. The clutch consists of 5-7 eggs.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
2. Alvaro Jaramillo. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton Field Guides. ISBN 0-691-11740-3
3. Wikipedia
4. Arthur Grosset

• List of references

[edit] External Links