Torrent duck :

NAME (S) LOCAL (S):
Baffled Duck, Torrent duck , duck strongman

DISTRIBUTION IN CHILE:
Andes Mountains from Atacama to Tierra del Fuego.

HABITAT:
Torrential rivers, rocks and pools.

DESCRIPTION:
Length: 42 - 43 cms.
Male: Head and neck white, with black line in the central area from the forehead to the nape. Black line from the eye, back and to the lower neck. Black under the eyes, cheeks, neck and neck. Sides and upper chest and lower black-brown with black dashes. Abdomen brown with black dashes. Dorsum white with black stripes longuitudinales. Covers gray-blue wings. Brilliant green speculum. Wings with two white bands; spur in his elbow. White tail with black stripes. Peak red. Legs reddish.

Female: Head and neck back gray. Cheeks, throat, anterior neck, chest, abdomen, sides, flanks and subcaudal rufous. Scapular and mantle marginalized black with gray feathers. Lomo, underwings and white tail with black stripes.

This duck, slender body and great resistance, lives exclusively in torrential rivers, usually cordilleranos but also in some near shore. Shortly addicted to flying and not abundant, you may find swimming against the current or resting on a rock. For its shape, colors and habits can not be confused with other species.

It feeds on plants, small fish, larvae, worms and crustaceans in the water.
It nests in caves, cliffs or burrows of other species, placing 4 or 5 eggs, smooth shell and semi-opaque, and dimensions of 64 mm. x 42. mm. app. The pups are nidífugas.