Flying Steamer Duck
Long wings steamer duck ( Tachyeres patachonicus )
The long wing steamer duck ( Tachyeres patachonicus ), also known as Patagonian steamer duck, is one of four species of steamer ducks in the subfamily of half- geese ( Tadorninae ). Among the steamer ducks this species is the only airworthy, with the rest, the wings are too short to bring the massive body into the air.
Distribution and habitat
The long wing steamer duck is common on the coast around the tip of South America, from southern Chile and southern Argentina, Tierra del Fuego to the Falkland Islands. Not only marin alive, the species occurs mainly outside the breeding season at home on lakes.
Appearance
With 66 to a maximum of 71 cm body length of this dabbling duck is the smallest and 2.43 to 3.17 kg of body weight, the lightest type of steamer ducks. Externally, both males and females of the Falkland steamer duck are very similar, however, act altogether delicate and not as massive as these flightless Art The head of the male is slightly lighter gray color than that of the male of T. brachypterus. The eye-ring is white and runs in a slightly curved line from the eye to the ear area. The beak is orange with a dark bill end. Females often have an olive green colored beak and otherwise resemble also strong female animals of the Falkland Steamer Duck. Juveniles are colored predominantly gray, the plumage may also have brown feathers.
Breeding behavior
The majority of the population breeds in the months of October and November, individual pairs breed sometimes much later. The nest is created for protection against predators in dense vegetation and often upstream on the coastal islands. Colonies are not formed, the species breeds always in pairs. In the Falkland Islands, there are no more than a couple per waters except this has a very high level of water plants and aquatic invertebrates on.
Average is the nest of 7 eggs, which are significantly smaller and tapering than that of the Falkland Steamer Duck. The incubation period is 30 to 40 days. Chicks are brown on the head and the back, abdomen white feathered and already have a white line on the eye, which is typical for adult females.
Food
Crustaceans and molluscs are captured preferably both on the coast and on inland waters diving and represent the main component of the diet.