Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Vulnerable
White-headed Steamerduck (Tachyeres leucocephalus)
Taxonomy
French: Brassemer à tête blanche German: Weißkopf-Dampfschiffente Spanish: Pato vapor cabeciblanco
Other common names:
Chubut Steamerduck
Taxonomy:
Tachyeres leucocephalus
Humphrey and Thompson
, 1981,Chubut Province, Argentina
.Distribution:
S Argentina (Chubut) from Valdés Peninsula S to Comodoro Rivadavia; also S to Santa Cruz (breeding records in Bahía Laura)#R, and occasional to Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego).
Descriptive notes
61–74 cm; male 2600–4400 g, female 2450–3550 g. Head of male much whiter than in other Tachyeres, contrasting with rest of plumage; bill bright... read more
Voice
Vocalizations are considered to be very similar to those of T. brachypterus.
Habitat
Entirely coastal, has not been recorded in freshwater lagoons; rocky coasts and sheltered bays.... read more
Food and feeding
Few specific data, although, as in other members of genus, diet was considered to be probably based around marine molluscs and crustaceans... read more
Breeding
During spring and summer, overall season Oct–Feb, with most nests initiated before Dec. Usually in single pairs, although relatively... read more
Movements
Sedentary, although as in other Tachyeres, small-scale movements probably occur outside... read more
Status and conservation
VULNERABLE. Previously considered Near Threatened. Apparently abundant within very restricted range, with a population previously estimated at < 10,000 birds, but now... read more
In recent phylogenetic study, present species and T. patachonicus were found to form a clade, distinct from the other two congeners#R. Although species is locally abundant, not described until 1981; old records of occurrence of T. pteneres on Chubut coast presumably refer to present species. Previously considered to form a superspecies with T. pteneres and T. brachypterus. Monotypic.