Andean Duck

Oxyura ferruginea (Eyton, 1838)

Anatidae — Ducks, Geese, Swans

Andean Duck, Oxyura ferruginea, breeds in South America from Colombia to the Southern Cone and is a duck of the Andean Mountains. It belongs to the stiff-tailed ducks and was once treated as part of the ruddy duck group. It is a small, compact bird with a stout, scoop-shaped bill and a long, rigid tail often carried raised. The head is slightly peaked and the neck is short and thick. It breeds on marshy lakes and ponds, nesting in dense waterside vegetation. The female makes the nest from grass.

Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae — Ducks, Geese, Swans
Breeding range: South America: Colombia to Southern Cone