Magellanic steamerduck

Tachyeres pteneres

SUBFAMILY

Tadiorninae

TAXONOMY

Anas pteneres Foster, 1844, Tierra del Fuego. Monotypic.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Magellanic flightless steamerduck; French: Brassemer cendré; German: Magellan-Dampfschiffente; Spanish: Patovapor de Magellanes.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

29.1–33.1 in (74–84 cm); 8.0–13.6 lb (3.63–6.18 kg); small wings render it almost flightless.

DISTRIBUTION

Coastal Chile from Chiloé Island south to Cape Horn, and coastal Argentina from Chubut south to Tierra del Fuego and Staten Island.

HABITAT

Rocky shores and sheltered bays, often several miles from coast.

BEHAVIOR

Highly territorial and very aggressive. Both males and females defend territory. Perform triumph ceremonies. Moves over water by flapping wings like a steamer boat. Sedentary.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Feeds by diving in shallow kelp beds for marine mollusks and crustaceans.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Perennially monogamous. Breeding starts Sept. or Oct.. Lay 5–8 eggs into well hidden nests; incubation c. 30–40 days.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Common in limited range.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.