The crested duck or South American crested duck is a species of duck native to South America, belonging to the monotypic genus Lophonetta. It is sometimes included in Anas, but it belongs to a South American clade that diverged early in dabbling duck evolution. There are two subspecies: L. specularioides alticola and L. specularioides specularioides. The Patagonian crested duck is also called the southern crested duck and its range lies in the Falklands, Chile, and Argentina.
Region
Southern Andes and Patagonia
Typical Environment
Occurs from the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwest Argentina south through Chilean and Argentine Patagonia, including the Falkland Islands. The Andean subspecies inhabits high-elevation lakes, lagoons, and puna wetlands, often with saline or brackish water. The southern subspecies uses lowland freshwater lakes, marshes, slow rivers, and coastal bays and estuaries. Nests are placed on the ground close to water, concealed in grasses or low scrub.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 4500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The crested duck is a South American dabbling duck and the sole member of the genus Lophonetta. It has two subspecies: the Andean crested duck (L. s. alticola) of high Andean lakes and the Patagonian/southern crested duck (L. s. specularioides) of Patagonia and the Falklands. Notable for its small nuchal crest and iridescent speculum, it often forages by dabbling and up-ending in shallow waters. Most populations are sedentary, though some make local or altitudinal movements.
Mountain Lake at ~4000 m (~13,100 ft) - Peru
Temperament
generally calm but wary
Flight Pattern
strong flier with direct, rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups; forms looser flocks outside the breeding season. Pairs are seasonally monogamous, with ground nests concealed in vegetation. Clutch sizes are moderate, and males often remain nearby to guard territory and brood.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations include soft, rasping quacks and gruff notes. Males give wheezy whistles during displays, while females produce louder quack-like calls, especially when alarmed.
Plumage
Overall gray-brown, finely mottled and scaly, with a small hind-crown crest. The wings show a glossy green to bronze speculum bordered by white and darker bars. Head and neck are paler gray with subtle mottling; underparts are lightly patterned.
Diet
Feeds on a mix of aquatic plants, seeds, algae, and invertebrates such as insect larvae, mollusks, and small crustaceans. Forages mainly by dabbling at the surface and up-ending in shallow water. Will also graze along shorelines and sift soft sediments for prey.
Preferred Environment
Shallow freshwater lakes, lagoons, marsh edges, and slow rivers; in the south also uses sheltered coastal bays and estuaries. Often stays close to vegetated margins where cover and food are abundant.
