Basic Information
Scientific classification
- Chinese name: Spotted Boat Duck
- Scientific name: Tachyeres patachonicus, Flying Steamerduck
- Classification: Waterfowl
- Family and genus: Anseriformes, Anatidae, Shoalidae
Vital signs data
- Body length: No verification information available.
- Weight: No verification information available.
- Lifespan: No verification data available.
Significant features
It is the only flying duck in the genus *Pteropoda*.
Distribution and Habitat
They are distributed in southern Chile, the southernmost tip of Argentina, Tierra del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands, mainly along the coastlines of these regions.
They inhabit inland freshwater areas.
Appearance
The Spotted Boat Duck is the only flying duck in the genus *Pterodactylus*. When it floats on the water, its rounded wings glide across the surface, resembling oars, hence the name "Boat Duck." Adults have a bluish-grey head and neck, reddish-brown cheeks, a brown chest and upper body with dense, fish-scale-like white markings, and a black tail tip. They have black irises, white eye rings, and white eye stripes. The beak is yellow near the base and grayish-white elsewhere. The wings have white speculum, the lower abdomen is white, and the legs are yellow-webbed.
Detailed introduction
The Flying Steamerduck (scientific name: Tachyeres patachonicus) is a gregarious duck belonging to the Anatidae family.
The spotted boat duck mainly feeds on animal matter such as crustaceans, mollusks, shrimp, and small fish. Small groups of a few to more than 20 are commonly seen foraging in shallow water near the water's edge and on the surface.
The Spotted Boat Duck typically breeds near the edges of lakes, rivers, ponds, and marshes, with the breeding season from September to October. Pairs are relatively stable. Mating takes place in the water or on land. Nests are built in grass or bushes near water, and sometimes in rock crevices or sandy slopes. The nest consists of a small amount of dry grass and a large amount of down feathers. The female lines the nest with plants and, after laying eggs, plucks a large amount of down feathers from her own body and places them inside. Each nest contains 5-10 eggs. Incubation begins after all eggs are laid, and is undertaken solely by the female. The male guards the nest, calling loudly to warn of danger. The incubation period is 27-30 days. The ducklings are precocial, fully covered in down feathers after hatching and capable of swimming and diving. They reach sexual maturity at two years of age.
Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Birds, 2009 ver 3.1.
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