How big is a Torrent Duck?

The Torrent Duck is a large sized bird weighing about 399 g.

Where can you see a Torrent Duck?

The Torrent Duck occurs in 7 countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile and Argentina.

What birds look similar to a Torrent Duck?

The Torrent Duck is most easily confused with the Flying Steamer Duck, the Red-breasted Goose and the Ashy-headed Goose.

Is the Torrent Duck endangered?

The Torrent Duck is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Torrent Duck

Merganetta armata

Ducks, Swans, and Geese · Anseriformes · Uncommon

The Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata) is a uncommon ducks, swans, and geese found in 7 countries, weighing about 399 g. The torrent duck is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae.

Least ConcernUncommonEats invertebratesriverinecavity nest399 g

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata), photo 1 — Photo: Víctor Sarabia Sánchez · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata), photo 2 — Photo: Víctor Sarabia Sánchez · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata), photo 3 — Photo: Víctor Sarabia Sánchez · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata), photo 4 — Photo: Víctor Sarabia Sánchez · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata), photo 5 — Photo: Peter Archdale · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata), photo 6 — Photo: Facundo Chieffo · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata), photo 7 — Photo: Facundo Chieffo · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata), photo 8 — Photo: Allan Harris · http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata), photo 9 — Photo: Allan Harris · http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata), photo 10 — Photo: David F. Belmonte · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

About the Torrent Duck

The torrent duck is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is the only member of the genus Merganetta. It is placed in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae after the "perching duck" assemblage to which it was formerly assigned was dissolved because it turned out to be paraphyletic.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Peru Ecuador Colombia Chile Argentina Bolivia Venezuela

When to see it

The Torrent Duck can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

What does a Torrent Duck look like?: The torrent duck is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae.
How big is a Torrent Duck?: The Torrent Duck is a large sized bird weighing about 399 g.
Where can you see a Torrent Duck?: The Torrent Duck occurs in 7 countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile and Argentina.
What birds look similar to a Torrent Duck?: The Torrent Duck is most easily confused with the Flying Steamer Duck, the Red-breasted Goose and the Ashy-headed Goose.
Is the Torrent Duck endangered?: The Torrent Duck is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Torrent Duck for real

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