Basic Information
Scientific classification
- Chinese name: Short-winged Boat Duck
- Scientific name: Falkland Steamerduck, *Tachyeres brachypterus*
- Classification: Waterfowl
- Family and genus: Anseriformes, Anatidae, Shoalidae
Vital signs data
- Body length: Approximately 65 cm
- Weight: No verification information available.
- Lifespan: No verification data available.
Significant features
It is a flightless duck
Distribution and Habitat
The short-winged boat duck is found in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas Islands), located in the South Atlantic Ocean east of the southern tip of Argentina, more than 500 kilometers west of Argentina.
They inhabit the coastline of the Falkland Islands, along steep cliffs, sandy beaches, and saltwater lakes.
Appearance
The Short-winged Boat Duck, measuring 65 cm in length, is a flightless duck. When floating on the water, its rounded wings glide and glide, resembling oars, hence its name "Boat Duck." The male has a white head and neck, interspersed with a few brown and tan feathers. Its beak and legs are yellow, while its upper body, chest, and wings are varying shades of blackish-brown with light-colored spots. The abdomen and rump are white, and it has a black iris, white eye rings, white eye stripes, and a white speculum on its wings. The female differs in that it has a black beak.
Detailed introduction
The Falkland Steamerduck (scientific name: Tachyeres brachypterus) is a gregarious duck belonging to the Anatidae family.
The short-winged 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.
Short-winged boat ducks typically breed near the edges of lakes, rivers, ponds, and marshes, with the breeding season from September to October. Pairings are relatively stable. Mating takes place in 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, while 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.
Protect wild animals and ban the consumption of wild game.
Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!
