DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS   -   ANATIDAE

White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata Reserva Ecologica de Guapi Assu, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A monotypic species even though it also occurs in Africa, Madagascar, and the Comoros.

Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba Taim Biological Reserve, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. A pair in extreme southern Brazil. I even saw several birds on nests even though this was in the middle of winter (3 August 2008).

Andean Goose Chloephaga melanoptera Laguna de los Pozuelos, Jujuy province, Argentina. A ridiculously small bill for a big goose. I'm curious about the ecological reasons for it.

Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos sylvicola About 15 km south of Iguatu, Ceará state, Brazil. Male. Rare and local in South America. It also occurs widely in the old world tropics.

Brazilian Teal Amazonetta brasiliensis ipecutiri Reserva Ecologica de Guapi Assu, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A pair. The male is on the left with a pink bill and white face & neck patch. The female is on the right with the white spots on the face.

Torrent Duck Merganetta armata berlepschi Rio Sosa, Tucumán province, Argentina. Female.

Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica spinicauda Lagoa de Peixe National Park, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

Silver Teal Anas versicolor versicolor Lagoa de Peixe National Park, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. A rather odd name for this species. I suppose it's rear end might be silvery, but that's about it.

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Antisana reserve, Napo province, Ecuador. These are just winter residents in South America. The one on the right with the face crescents definitely is a Blue-winged Teal, but how about the other two? The left one seems to be because of the blue speculum, but the center one is tough, it might be a Speckled Teal (A. flavirostris andium).

Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma erythrophthalma About 15 km south of Iguatu, Ceará state, Brazil. Two females. Quite rare and local in South America; it also occurs over much of Africa.

Brazilian Merganser Mergus octosetaceus Serra da Canatra NP, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Male. It's the rarest duck in South America. BirdLife International (see factsheet) estimates the population to be 50-249 individuals, most of the them in Brazil. A small population was recently rediscovered in Argentina, and a few might persist in Paraguay. Canastra NP is probably the best place to see it. They can be seen on most days if you know where to look.

Brazilian Merganser Mergus octosetaceus Serra da Canatra NP, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Male. He was trying to take a nap on that rock, but kept a watchful eye on us while we photographed him.

Masked Duck Nomonyx dominicus Reserva Ecologica de Guapi Assu, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Female.

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