Crested Duck - BirdForum Opus

Photo by megan perkins
Salinas N.Park, Peru

Lophonetta specularioides

Anas specularioides

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

Distribution

South America.

Taxonomy

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.

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.

Behaviour

The diet includes algae and invertebrates.

It builds its nest in shrubs near to water; 5-7 eggs are laid.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Alvaro Jaramillo. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton Field Guides. ISBN 0-691-11740-3

Wikipedia; Arthur Grosset

External Links

Search for photos of Crested Duck in the gallery