Photo: Dude Daniels (http://theworldbirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lake Duck
Oxyura vittata
Lake Duck (Oxyura vittata) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lake Duck (Oxyura vittata) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 643 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 vittata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 643 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Endangered
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lake Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Lake Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Lake Duck (Oxyura vittata) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Southern Cone.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 643 g, with a wing length of about 13.8 cm and a tail of around 7.6 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 2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lake Duck?
The Lake Duck is a large bird that weighs around 643 g.
Where does the Lake Duck live?
The Lake Duck is found across South America with a range covering SA Southern Cone, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Lake Duck belong to?
The Lake Duck (Oxyura vittata) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Lake Duck eat?
The Lake Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Lake Duck migrate?
The Lake Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Lake 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 Lake Duck make?
1 real field recording of the Lake Duck — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Lake Duck's range?
The Lake Duck has a mapped global range of about 2 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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