Brazilian Duck
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 Brazilian Ducks
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| Amazonetta brasiliensis (Gmelin, 1789) |
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The Brazilian Duck or Brazilian Teal (Amazonetta brasiliensis) is the only duck in the genus Amazonetta. It was formerly considered a "perching duck", but more recent analyses indicate that it belongs to a clade of South American dabbling ducks which also includes the Crested Duck, the Bronze-winged Duck, and possibly the steamer ducks (Johnson & Sorenson, 1999).
The ducks are light brown in colour. Drakes distinguish themselves from females in having red beaks and legs, and in having a distinctive pale grey area on the side of its head and neck. The colour of these limbs is much duller in females.
Brazilian ducks live in pairs or in small groups of up to twenty birds. Both parents look after their hatchlings. They eat seeds, fruits, roots and insect, while ducklings eat only insects.
They can be found throughout eastern South America, from Uruguay to northern Argentina, with a core area in Venezuela, northern and central Brazil. Their preferred habitat is a body of freshwater away from the coast with dense vegetation nearby.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Amazonetta brasiliensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Johnson, Kevin P. & Sorenson, Michael D. (1999): Phylogeny and biogeography of dabbling ducks (genus Anas): a comparison of molecular and morphological evidence. Auk 116(3): 792–805. PDF fulltext
[edit] External link
- Arthur Grosset's Birds: Short description and pictures
