Photo: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo from Armenia, Colombia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Andean Duck
Oxyura ferruginea
Andean Duck (Oxyura ferruginea) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Andean Duck (Oxyura ferruginea) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 608 g. 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 Oxyura
- Species ferruginea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 608 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Andean Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Andean Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Andean Duck (Oxyura ferruginea) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Colombia to Southern Cone.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 608 g, with a wing length of about 15.7 cm and a tail of around 7.4 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 2.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Andean Duck?
The Andean Duck is a large bird that weighs around 608 g.
Where does the Andean Duck live?
The Andean Duck is found across South America with a range covering SA Colombia to Southern Cone, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Andean Duck belong to?
The Andean Duck (Oxyura ferruginea) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Andean Duck eat?
The Andean Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Andean Duck migrate?
The Andean Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Andean 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 Andean Duck make?
1 real field recording of the Andean Duck — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Andean Duck's range?
The Andean Duck has a mapped global range of about 2.1 million 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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