Falkland Steamerduck
Tachyeres brachypterus
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<birdfyi-bird slug="tachyeres-brachypterus"></birdfyi-bird>About
A large flightless steamerduck endemic to the Falkland Islands, with grey body plumage, white belly, and orange-yellow bill. Males have a rust-orange head. Highly territorial and aggressive; pairs vigorously defend coastal territories. Feeds by diving in kelp beds and rocky coastal shallows.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 49.0 cm | 19.3 in |
| Weight | 3799.0 g | 134.01 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Flightless; males gray with white supercilium and orange bill. Breast grayish-brown; flanks with brown mottling. Females brown with white eye-ring. Yellow-olive bill. Endemic to Falkland Islands.
Habitat & Range
Exclusive to rocky coasts, sheltered coves, kelp beds, and sea inlets of the Falkland Islands. Flightless; strictly coastal. One of the few bird species entirely endemic to the Falkland Islands.
Geographic Range
Breeds in subarctic boreal ponds of Alaska and Canada; winters coastally from Alaska to California and on the Gulf Coast.
Diet & Feeding
Eats seeds, sedge shoots, and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in ponds and marshes; diet varies with water depth and season.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: BU. Incubation: 28-40 days. Fledging: 84 days.
Clutch Size
4-12
Sound
Song
Similar to Magellanic Steamerduck in call quality — harsh, rattling, mechanical. Falkland Island birds' vocalizations adapted for stormy, windswept coastal habitat.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes (Waterfowl) |
| Family | Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans) |
| Genus | Tachyeres |
| Species | Tachyeres brachypterus |
Distribution
Falkland Steamerduck has been recorded in 1 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Falkland Steamerduck eat?
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Anatidae family