The comb duck or American comb duck, is an unusual duck, found in tropical wetlands in continental South America south to the Paraguay River region in eastern Paraguay, southeastern Brazil and extreme northeastern Argentina, and as a vagrant on Trinidad.
Region
South America
Typical Environment
Occurs across tropical and subtropical South America, with core populations in the Amazon Basin, Pantanal, and the Paraguay River drainage. It favors freshwater wetlands such as marshes, oxbow lakes, slow rivers, seasonally flooded savannas, and rice fields. Birds use open water for loafing and feeding but frequently perch in nearby trees. During dry periods they concentrate at permanent water bodies and may disperse widely after rains.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The male has a distinctive black, swollen knob at the base of the bill that enlarges during the breeding season, giving the species its name. Unlike many ducks, it often perches and roosts in trees and may nest in tree cavities as well as on the ground. Flocks can be quite large in the dry season when birds congregate at shrinking wetlands.
Temperament
social but wary
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often seen in small groups to large flocks, especially where food is abundant. Courtship includes head-bobbing and displays emphasizing the male’s bill knob. Nesting may occur in tree cavities or on the ground near water; females lay clutches that they incubate alone while males may guard nearby.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Generally quiet; most vocalizations are low grunts and hisses from males during displays. Females give harsher quacks when alarmed. Wing noise and soft contact calls are heard in flocks.
