Black-headed Duck
Heteronetta atricapilla
The Black-headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) is a rare ducks, swans, and geese found in 6 countries, weighing about 538 g. The black-headed duck is a South American duck in subfamily Oxyurinae of family Anatidae.
About the Black-headed Duck
The black-headed duck is a South American duck in subfamily Oxyurinae of family Anatidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-headed duck is the most basal living member of its subfamily, and it lacks the stiff tail and swollen bill of its relatives. Overall much resembling a fairly typical diving duck, its plumage and other peculiarities indicate it may not be a very close relative of the other stiff-tailed ducks, but rather the product of convergent evolution from the ancestors of the stiff-tailed ducks. The black-headed duck is about 35 cm (14 in) long. Males weigh an average of about 510 g (18 oz) and females 565 g (20 oz). Voice: The black-headed duck is usually silent. It does give a low "quah quah" as part of a courtship display, and also "a two note grunt followed by a whistle: – gr-rump-freet." Females make "clucking notes."
Where it lives
When to see it
The Black-headed Duck can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-headed Duck?
- The black-headed duck is the most basal living member of its subfamily, and it lacks the stiff tail and swollen bill of its relatives. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-headed Duck?
- The Black-headed Duck is a large sized bird weighing about 538 g.
- Where can you see a Black-headed Duck?
- The Black-headed Duck occurs in 6 countries, including Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay.
- What birds look similar to a Black-headed Duck?
- The Black-headed Duck is most easily confused with the West Indian Whistling Duck, the Baikal Teal and the African Pygmy Goose.
- Is the Black-headed Duck endangered?
- The Black-headed Duck is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-headed Duck for real
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