Argentine blue-bill, Argentine blue-billed duck, Argentine lake duck, Argentine ruddy duck
The lake duck (Oxyura vittata ) is a small, South American stiff-tailed duck. It is also called the Argentine blue-bill, Argentine blue-billed duck, Argentine lake duck, or Argentine ruddy duck.
The Lake duck is a small, stiff-tailed duck found in South America. Males look very similar to the Andean duck, a similar species, but they can be distinguished from by being smaller and having a flatter head.
Lake ducks occur in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. They are partially migratory and live in bodies of freshwater with large amounts of vegetation, such as wetlands and lakes.
Lake ducks are social birds and prefer to spend their time in groups. They are awkward on land and rarely leave the water.
Lake ducks are omnivores feeding on small invertebrates, seeds, and plant remains.
Lake ducks are polygynous and don’t form pairs. Their breeding season varies between countries, occurring from October to January in Argentina. Males produce popping noises and "mechanical rustling noises" for display in order to attract females. They lay 3 to 7 large eggs and females incubate them for about 25-28 days.
Lake ducks are widespread throughout their range and are not considered threatened at present.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Lake duck is around 25,000-100,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.