Falkland steamer duck


The Falkland steamer duck is a steamer duck native to the Falkland Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is one of only two bird species endemic to the Falkland Islands, the other being Cobb's wren.

Description

The Falkland steamer duck's wings are very short, and it is incapable of flight. The plumage of the Falkland steamer duck is mostly dark grey, but with a white stripe behind the eye. It is very difficult to distinguish from the flying steamer duck in the field since they occupy the same habitat and, although the flying steamer duck can fly, it rarely does.

Historical description

devoted two paragraphs to this bird in The Voyage of the Beagle, having observed them at the Falkland Islands in 1833: