Photo: Murray Foubister / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Flying Steamer Duck
Tachyeres patachonicus
Flying Steamer Duck (Tachyeres patachonicus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Flying Steamer Duck (Tachyeres patachonicus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.8 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 patachonicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.8 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Flying 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 Flying Steamer Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Flying Steamer Duck (Tachyeres patachonicus) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA s Chile, s Argentina and (perhaps) Falkland Is.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.8 kg, with a wing length of about 28.7 cm and a tail of around 9.8 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 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Flying Steamer Duck?
The Flying Steamer Duck is a very large bird that weighs around 2.8 kg.
Where does the Flying Steamer Duck live?
The Flying Steamer Duck is found across South America with a range covering SA s Chile, s Argentina and (perhaps) Falkland Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Flying Steamer Duck belong to?
The Flying Steamer Duck (Tachyeres patachonicus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Flying Steamer Duck eat?
The Flying Steamer Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Flying Steamer Duck migrate?
The Flying Steamer Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Flying 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 Flying Steamer Duck make?
4 real field recordings of the Flying Steamer Duck — including its song and call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Flying Steamer Duck's range?
The Flying Steamer Duck has a mapped global range of about 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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