Photo: Erwinh / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Torrent Duck
Merganetta armata
Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata) — 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 Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 399 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 Merganetta
- Species armata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 399 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Torrent Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Torrent Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Venezuela to c Chile and w Argentina.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 399 g, with a wing length of about 16.3 cm and a tail of around 11.1 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 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Torrent Duck?
The Torrent Duck is a large bird that weighs around 399 g.
Where does the Torrent Duck live?
The Torrent Duck is found across South America with a range covering SA Venezuela to c Chile and w Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Torrent Duck belong to?
The Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Torrent Duck eat?
The Torrent Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Torrent Duck migrate?
The Torrent Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Torrent 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 Torrent Duck make?
2 real field recordings of the Torrent Duck — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Torrent Duck's range?
The Torrent Duck has a mapped global range of about 1.1 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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