Comb Duck

About

A large pied duck with a black-and-white body and, in males, a large black knob on the upper mandible during breeding season. The New World Comb Duck found from Panama to northern Argentina. Nests in tree cavities near lakes. Feeds by dabbling and grazing in wetland margins.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	60.9 cm	24.0 in
Weight	1817.5 g	64.11 oz

Identification

Plumage

Males have white head densely spotted black; black back with blue-green iridescence; white underparts with gray flanks. Prominent black fleshy knob on bill. Females smaller, duller, lack knob. South American.

Habitat & Range

Freshwater lakes, rivers, flooded savannas, and seasonally inundated forest in lowland tropical South America from Panama south to Bolivia, Brazil, and northern Argentina. Nests in tree cavities near permanent water.

🌾 Grassland 🌿 Wetland

Geographic Range

Breeds in the prairie pothole region of central North America; winters along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on seeds, plant material, and invertebrates; dabbles and sifts shallow water; diet varies widely by season and habitat.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: CV. Incubation: 28-30 days.

Sound

Song

A soft, nasal 'wuk-wuk' call. Both sexes give similar quiet calls. Generally a less vocal duck than most waterfowl. Gives a rattling wingbeat sound during flight.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Family	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Sarkidiornis
Species	Sarkidiornis sylvicola

Distribution

Comb Duck has been recorded in 3 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇳🇴 Norway 🇻🇪 Venezuela

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Comb Duck eat?

Feeds on seeds, plant material, and invertebrates; dabbles and sifts shallow water; diet varies widely by season and habitat.

Where does the Comb Duck live?

Freshwater lakes, rivers, flooded savannas, and seasonally inundated forest in lowland tropical South America from Panama south to Bolivia, Brazil, and northern Argentina. Nests in tree cavities near permanent water.

Is the Comb Duck endangered?

The Comb Duck has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Comb Duck nest?

Nest type: CV. Incubation: 28-30 days.

What does the Comb Duck sound like?

A soft, nasal 'wuk-wuk' call. Both sexes give similar quiet calls. Generally a less vocal duck than most waterfowl. Gives a rattling wingbeat sound during flight.

How big is the Comb Duck?

The Comb Duck has a wingspan of 60.9 cm, weight of 1817.5 g.

What order and family does the Comb Duck belong to?

The Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis sylvicola) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.