Latin: Amazonetta brasiliensis
Average length: 36-41 cm
Average weight: M 430 g, F 370 g
Description: The crown is dark brown, becoming blackish on the hindneck. Sides of head and neck are pale grayish-buff and the front of the head back to eye and throat are medium-brown. The breast is brown, becoming paler and buffer-brown along flanks and ventral region. The sides of the breast and fore-flanks are lightly scalloped black. Upperparts are brown, blackish on back and rump and pale buffish-brown on the uppertail-coverts, and the tail is black. The upperwing is blackish, glossed green and purple, with white innermost secondaries and similar underwing. There is some variation among individuals. Vocalization is a piercing, repeated whistle "tuwee tuwee," which is given in flight as well as in display.
Hens are similar to the male, but their crown and neck have more extensive dusky-brown, and striking whitish facial spots, a whitish loral patch, and whitish supercilium from just behind the eye to bill-base. Vocalization is a deep loud "quack."
Breeding:The preferred habitats of Brazilian ducks are shallow ponds, marshes, flooded fields, and wet grassy areas. Pair-bond is possibly long-term with males helping females in tending the brood. Nests are usually on the ground close to the waterside hidden in vegetation, but have been reported constructed of water plants floating in the water and inside trees using old nests of other birds. They can lay 6 yellow-tinged white eggs.
Migrating and Wintering: Brazilian Ducks are endemic to South America, and are widespread and common east of the Andes from the Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela to northern Argentina and Uruguay (Scott and Carbonell, 1986).
Population: A. b. brasiliensis (Northern Neotropics) 100,000-1,000,000; A. b. ipecutiri (Southern Neotropics) 10,000-100,000 (Rose and Scott, 1994).
Food habits: Brazilian ducks feed by swimming and dabbling in shallows close to the shore or bank.
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