Chiloé wigeon

The Chiloé wigeon has a body length of and a wingspan of . The wing length is about and the weight is approximately . This bird has an iridescent green-blue cap on its head, and a bluish gray bill with a black tip. The cheeks and forehead are white, the eyes are dark brown, and there is a white auricular patch. The neck and occipital part of the head are black. The breast is barred black and white and the plumage of the wings is gray and white. The flanks of males are rust colored, and light brown on females. The legs and feet are gray. Sexual dimorphism is relatively subtle in this species of wigeon. Males are usually somewhat larger and heavier, and with somewhat brighter plumage and more strongly pronounced iridescence of the cap. Apart from these features, it can be difficult to distinguish the two sexes. Juveniles resemble adult birds, but the rust coloring on the flanks is diminished or absent. Mareca sibilatrix MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.32.5.jpg| Mareca sibilatrix - MHNT Zürich - Seefeld - Zürichhorn IMG 8475.JPG|Searching for food Anas sibilatrix -Puerto Natales, Patagonia, Chile -family-8 (1).jpg|Family in Patagonia ==Distribution and habitat==

This duck is indigenous to the southern part of South America, where it is found on freshwater lakes, marshes, shallow lagoons and slow flowing rivers. Vagrants have been observed in South Georgia, South Orkney and the South Shetland Islands. It breeds primarily in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. The northern border of the breeding range is in Argentina at 36° S and Chile at 40° S. It also breeds sparingly in the Falkland Islands. It migrates to southeastern Brazil for the winter. It was first introduced to Europe in 1870; it soon bred in zoos. Because the Chiloé wigeon is widely distributed and has a large, stable wild population, it is categorized as least concern by the IUCN. ==Ecology and behavior==

The Chiloé wigeon displays a variety of behaviors depending on habitat. It is an omnivore, feeding predominantly on aquatic plants and grass, and occasionally coastal algae. Chiloe wigeon (Mareca sibilatrix) in flight Maipo.jpg Chiloe wigeons (Mareca sibilatrix) in flight Maipo.jpg Parasites This species is host to a variety of parasitic species which include chewing lice, feather mites, nasal mites, tapeworms, nematodes and trematodes. ==References==

• Kolbe, Hartmut; The Ducks of the World, Ulmer Verlag 1999, • Woods, A, Woods, R: Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Falkland Islands, Anthony Nelson, Shropshire 1997, ==External links==