Head to head
Crested Duck vs Flying Steamer Duck
Crested Duck
VS Flying Steamer Duck
Both ducks retain flight and range across parts of southern South America, but their defining traits differ sharply.
| Crested Duck | Flying Steamer Duck | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lophonetta specularioides | Tachyeres patachonicus |
| Distinguishing feature | A shaggy crest on the head | The only steamer duck able to fly |
| Elevational range | Sea level to high Andean lakes | Mostly coastal and inland lowland waters |
| Flight | Capable of flight | Capable of flight, unlike its steamer duck relatives |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Pair bonding | Pairs remain together year-round | Not documented to the same degree |
| Habitat | Wetlands, coastal, mountains | Coastal, wetlands |
Crested Duck vs Flying Steamer Duck: common questions
Which one has a distinctive head crest?
The crested duck has this feature, a shaggy tuft of feathers on the back of its head, a trait not shared by the flying steamer duck.
Which one ranges to the highest elevations?
The crested duck ranges highest, found from sea-level Patagonian coastlines up to high-altitude Andean lakes, a broader elevational span than the flying steamer duck typically covers.
Do both retain the ability to fly?
Yes, both species can fly, though this is unremarkable for the crested duck while it makes the flying steamer duck the only one of its kind among steamer ducks, most of which are flightless.