Alternative Names (Synonyms)

Argentine blue-billed duck
Argentine blue-bill
Argentine ruddy duck
Bindenruderente (German)
Argentinische Ruderente (German)
Erismature orné (French)
Erismature tacheté (French)
Malvasía Argentina (Spanish)
Pato rana (Spanish)
Pato rojo de la Argentina (Spanish)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Aviculture information:
J23.13.w8
B29, B30, B40, B94.
D1, D8

Other References

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Waterfowl
• Stiff-tails

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Diving Ducks (D1)

Aviculture Information

Notes

• Stiff-tails are generally hardy. They are extremely aquatic and do best on large ponds of variable depth, with clean, deep water and plenty of natural food available in the form of marginal aquatic plants, while a muddy pond bottom will provide food items such as tubifex worms. Duckweed and small-sized seeds such as millet and canary seed mixtures are preferred to conventional waterfowl feeds, although wheat and pellets will be taken if natural food is scarce, for example in hard winter weather. Ample marginal vegetation (e.g. rushes, sedge, juncus reed) should be available for general cover and for nesting, with nesting rafts also provided.
• Most species are sociable and do best in groups rather than as a single pair; males will fight, but usually for only a short period, some degree of pursuit and rape of ducks is also likely. They can be very aggressive in nest site defence, therefore in mixed collections they should be kept on a water area sufficiently large for other ducks to escape.
• Stiff-tail ducklings should preferably be reared with access to water from e.g. two days old, with sufficient depth for diving provided even at an early age, although enforced drying off periods between short swims may be advisable initially. Duckweed is a useful starter food for these species, although attached daphnia and water snails may carry parasites.

(J23.13.w8, B29, B30, B40, B94).

Species-specific information:

• Lake ducks should have access to deep water (1m or deeper). They are difficult to breed. They will use rafts for nesting and usually lay eggs March to September.

(B29, D1).

Aviornis UK Ringing Scheme recommended average closed ring size: J 9.0mm (D8).

Management Techniques

Measurement & Weight

Head

Legs

Plumage

Breast and underparts brown with pale feather tips giving barring, and central abdomen white. Upperparts darker brown. Wings dark brown, Tail grey.

Eclipse male: Similar to female but usually a few reddish feathers on the body.

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Bill: Grey
Feet: Grey

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

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Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

Lowland southern South America – much of Chile and Argentina, northward to south-eastern Brazil and southward to Tierra del Fuego.

Southern populations migrate to lower latitudes in the winter, moving north to Central Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. Other populations are mainly sedentary except in severe drought.

Reported on Falkland Islands and Deception Island during a severe South American mainland drought.

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Habitat

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Uncommon but does not appear to be threatened (B1).

Captive Populations

Trade