Photo: BS Thurner Hof / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Comb Duck

Sarkidiornis sylvicola

Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis sylvicola) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Brazil Birds of Colombia Birds of Costa Rica Birds of Ecuador Birds of Spain Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of Peru Birds of England Birds of Lancashire

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Argentina Ducks, Geese & Swans of Brazil Ducks, Geese & Swans of Colombia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Costa Rica Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ecuador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Spain Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United Kingdom Ducks, Geese & Swans of Peru Ducks, Geese & Swans of England

See what's near you right now

The Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis sylvicola) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Sarkidiornis
Species sylvicola

Where it lives

Northern Colombia and Venezuela to northern Argentina

South America

Quick facts

Weight: 2.6 kg
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Comb Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Comb Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis sylvicola) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA n Colombia and Venezuela to n Argentina.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.6 kg, with a wing length of about 30.5 cm and a tail of around 9.9 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.7 million km².

Songs & calls

Comb Duck — Flight call, flight calls

Recorded by John V. Moore Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Comb Duck?

The Comb Duck is a very large bird that weighs around 2.6 kg.

Where does the Comb Duck live?

The Comb Duck is found across South America with a range covering SA n Colombia and Venezuela to n Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Comb Duck belong to?

The Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis sylvicola) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Comb Duck eat?

The Comb Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Comb Duck migrate?

The Comb Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Comb 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 Comb Duck make?

1 real field recording of the Comb Duck — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Comb Duck's range?

The Comb Duck has a mapped global range of about 9.7 million km².