About the Fuegian Steamer Duck
The flightless steamer-duck, Magellanic flightless steamer-duck, or Fuegian steamer duck, is a flightless duck native to South America. It belongs to the steamer duck genus Tachyeres. It inhabits the rocky coasts and coastal islands from southern Chile and Chiloé to Tierra del Fuego, switching to the adjacent sheltered bays and lakes further inland when breeding.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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This is the largest of the steamer duck species. It is a massively built waterfowl at 3.5–7 kg (7.7–15.4 lb) and 65–84 cm (26–33 in) in length, with the males noticeably larger than the females. Males weigh an average of 5.34 kg (11.8 lb) while females weigh around 4.2 kg (9.3 lb) on average. The wingspan is 85–110 cm (33–43 in), the wings being too small to functionally allow the birds to take flight. Instead, the wings are used like paddles to help skim rapidly across the surface of the water.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Fuegian Steamer Duck lives
When to see the Fuegian Steamer Duck
Peak activity in November · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Falkland Steamer DuckTachyeres brachypterusThe Falkland steamer duck measures between 61 and 74 cm in length and has a wingspan of 84 to 94 cm.
Flying Steamer DuckTachyeres patachonicusThough they are the smallest of the four Tachyeres species, flying steamer ducks share similar plumage traits with other steamer ducks including female brown head and neck feathers with white stripes stretching from their eyes to the napes of their necks, and brown-gray gradient body feathers.
Chubut Steamer DuckTachyeres leucocephalusAdult male Chubut steamer ducks have white heads with a bright yellow/orange bill with a black nail.
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