Lophonetta specularioides
The Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides) is a medium-sized waterfowl species, immediately recognizable by its distinctive, erectile crest of feathers on the crown, giving it an almost perpetually wind-swept appearance. Measuring approximately 50-60 cm (20-24 inches) in length and weighing between 800-1200 grams (1.8-2.6 lbs), its plumage is a mottled grey-brown, often paler on the underparts, contrasting with its black bill and dark legs. A key field mark, though often concealed, is an ir...
Primarily inhabits freshwater lakes, ponds, marshes, and slow-moving rivers, but also frequently found in coastal lagoons and estuaries. It occurs from sea level up to extreme elevations of 4,700 meters in the Andes.
An omnivorous species, its diet consists primarily of aquatic invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and mollusks, supplemented with seeds, leaves, and stems of various aquatic plants. Foraging is predominantly by dabbling and up-ending in shallow water.
Crested Ducks are largely diurnal, spending their days foraging and often roosting on the water or sheltered banks. They are quintessential dabbling ducks, feeding by head-dipping and occasionally up-ending in shallow waters, often in pairs or small family groups. During the breeding season, pair...
The Crested Duck boasts a wide distribution across southern South America, with two recognized subspecies. The nominate subspecies, *L. s. specularioides*, primarily inhabits the lowlands of southern Chile and Argentina, extending eastward to the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). The second subspecies...
Least Concern
- The Crested Duck is the sole species in its genus, Lophonetta, making it a unique evolutionary lineage among ducks. - Its distinctive crest is erectile, meaning the duck can raise and lower these feathers, particularly noticeable during courtship displays or when alarmed. - The Andean subspecie...