Birds
Crested Duck
Lophonetta specularioides · also called crested ducks
Sporting a shaggy tuft of feathers unlike any other duck in the region, a crested duck ranges from windswept Patagonian coastlines all the way up to high Andean lakes thousands of metres above sea level, an elevational span few other waterfowl can match.
Overview
The crested duck, Lophonetta specularioides, is a Least Concern waterfowl species native to wetland, coastal, and mountain habitat across southern South America and the high Andes. Its distinctive head crest, exceptionally broad elevational range, and year-round pair bonding make it one of the more physically and ecologically adaptable ducks found anywhere in South America.
A duck built for extremes of altitude
Few ducks anywhere handle such a dramatic range of elevation as the crested duck, equally capable of foraging along a sea-level Patagonian shoreline or a frigid Andean lake high above the clouds, a flexibility reflected in its two distinct subspecies.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across its broad range of lowland and high-altitude habitat in South America.
Crested Duck: common questions
Why is it called the crested duck?
This species has a shaggy tuft of feathers on the back of its head, giving it its common name and a distinctive silhouette that separates it from most other duck species.
How high in elevation can the crested duck be found?
This species ranges from lowland Patagonian coastlines up to high-altitude Andean lakes thousands of metres above sea level, an unusually broad elevational tolerance for a duck.
Does the crested duck have subspecies?
Yes, this species is divided into two recognised subspecies, one found in the lowland south of its range and one adapted specifically to conditions in the high Andes further north.
Do crested ducks pair for the whole year?
Yes, this species typically forms pairs that remain together throughout the year, rather than the more seasonal pairing pattern seen in some other duck species.