• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species is classified as Near Threatened as it has a small global population within which all its subpopulations are small. If it was demonstrated to be declining it would qualify as Vulnerable.

Population justification
The population is estimated to number fewer than 10,000 individuals, and so is placed in the band 2,500-9,999 individuals (R. Schlatter in litt. 2002). This equates to 1,667-6,666 mature individuals, rounded here to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Speculanas specularis is most common in the Andean valleys of south Chile and west-central Argentina to Tierra del Fuego. It has been suggested that some birds disperse north and east after the breeding season (Carboneras 1992a). The population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 individuals (R. Schlatter in litt. 2002 to Wetlands International 2002), but there are few obvious threats and numbers seem stable.

It breeds mostly by fast-flowing rivers in forested regions up to 1,800 m, but also on wetlands, ponds and lakes away from dense forests (Carboneras 1992a, Parker et al. 1996, S. Imberti in litt. 1999, Delany and Scott 2002). Breeding begins in September-October, with egg-laying in October-November, and a c.30 day incubation period in captivity (Carboneras 1992a). It feeds on seeds, leaves and stems of aquatic plants, variable amounts of aquatic invertebrates, and sometimes in the leaf-litter of forests away from water (Carboneras 1992a, S. Imberti in litt. 1999).

Potential threats include predation by Mustela vison (M. Pearman in litt. 1999), increased pressure from tourism (e.g. in Los Glaciares National Park [S. Imberti in litt. 1999]), and salmon farming and trout stocking on Chilean rivers (A. Jaramillo in litt. 1999).

Conservation Actions Underway
It is well represented within protected areas, occurring in seven Argentinean National Parks (Delany and Scott 2002) and Torres del Paine National Park, Chile (A. Jaramillo in litt. 1999).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Census and monitor the population. Research potential threats from tourism, predation and fish farming. Ensure the effective protection of the protected areas in which it occurs.

46-54 cm. A dull duck with a bold head pattern. Dark brown hood with oval patch between lores and malar, white. Large white gular crescent. Dark chocolate brown above with buff scalloping on back, paler grey-buff below, mottled dusky. Vinaceous bronze wing speculum. Similar spp. Only possibly confused with Chiloe Wigeon A. sibilatrix which has an obvious green sheen on head and rusty flanks. Its upperparts are broadly fringed white and has an obvious white wing patch. Voice Male utters a trilled whistle or harsh hiss sie sie and female bark-like gue gue notes. Hints Occurs in pairs or small groups; generally retiring. Mostly in open rivers.

Text account compilers
Wheatley, H., Pilgrim, J., Capper, D., Symes, A., Benstead, P., Mazar Barnett, J.

Contributors
Jaramillo, A., Imberti, I., Pearman, M.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Spectacled Duck Speculanas specularis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/spectacled-duck-speculanas-specularis on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.