Head to head
Fuegian Steamer Duck vs Flying Steamer Duck
Fuegian Steamer Duck
VS Flying Steamer Duck
Both ducks share the same churning, paddle-wheel style of swimming that gives all steamer ducks their name, but one gave up flight entirely while the other did not.
| Fuegian Steamer Duck | Flying Steamer Duck | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Tachyeres pteneres | Tachyeres patachonicus |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Flight ability | Completely flightless | Only steamer duck species capable of true flight |
| Body build | Larger, heavier | Comparatively lighter build |
| Range | Coastal, ocean along the southern tip of South America | Coastal and wetland, extends further inland |
| Habitat | Coastal, ocean | Coastal, wetlands |
| Temperament | Extremely aggressive and territorial | Strongly territorial |
| Water locomotion | Churns across the surface with wings | Still churns across the surface despite flight ability |
Fuegian Steamer Duck vs Flying Steamer Duck: common questions
Which duck can fly?
The flying steamer duck can, the only steamer duck species capable of true flight, unlike the Fuegian steamer duck, which has lost the ability entirely.
Which duck ranges further inland?
The flying steamer duck does, extending onto freshwater lakes and rivers further inland than the more strictly coastal Fuegian steamer duck.
Do both ducks still churn across the water the same way?
Yes, both species propel themselves across the water's surface in the same distinctive churning, paddle-wheel motion typical of all steamer ducks, regardless of flight ability.