Head to head
Kelp Goose vs Falkland Steamer Duck
Kelp Goose
VS Falkland Steamer Duck
Both are coastal waterfowl of the far south, but one still flies while the other has given up flight entirely.
| Kelp Goose | Falkland Steamer Duck | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Chloephaga hybrida | Tachyeres brachypterus |
| Diet | A herbivore feeding on kelp and seaweed | A carnivore feeding on shellfish and invertebrates |
| Flight | Capable of flight | Completely flightless |
| Sexual dimorphism | Extreme, with pure white males and dark females | Not documented as extreme |
| Range | Southern South America and the Falkland Islands | The Falkland Islands only |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Coastal | Coastal |
Kelp Goose vs Falkland Steamer Duck: common questions
Which one cannot fly?
The Falkland steamer duck cannot fly, having lost the ability entirely, unlike the kelp goose, which retains normal flight.
Which one shows extreme differences between males and females?
The kelp goose shows this pattern, with males almost entirely pure white and females a mottled dark grey and black, one of the most extreme examples of colour difference between the sexes in any waterfowl.
Which one is found only in the Falkland Islands?
The Falkland steamer duck is found only there, entirely endemic to the Falkland Islands, while the kelp goose ranges more broadly across southern South America as well.