Photo: Pismire / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Falkland Steamer Duck
Tachyeres brachypterus
Falkland Steamer Duck (Tachyeres brachypterus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
The Falkland Steamer Duck (Tachyeres brachypterus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 3.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Tachyeres
- Species brachypterus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.5 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Falkland Steamer Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Falkland Steamer Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Falkland Steamer Duck (Tachyeres brachypterus) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Falkland Is.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.5 kg, with a wing length of about 24.5 cm and a tail of around 9.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 12,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Falkland Steamer Duck?
The Falkland Steamer Duck is a very large bird that weighs around 3.5 kg.
Where does the Falkland Steamer Duck live?
The Falkland Steamer Duck is found across South America with a range covering SA Falkland Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Falkland Steamer Duck belong to?
The Falkland Steamer Duck (Tachyeres brachypterus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Falkland Steamer Duck eat?
The Falkland Steamer Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Falkland Steamer Duck migrate?
The Falkland Steamer Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Falkland Steamer Duck endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Falkland Steamer Duck make?
4 real field recordings of the Falkland Steamer Duck — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Falkland Steamer Duck's range?
The Falkland Steamer Duck has a mapped global range of about 12,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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