 |
 |
|
|
|
|
The three species of steamer-ducks are all found in southern South America. All are large and all strongly resemble each other; this is the flying steamer-duck, so named because it is capable of flight (unlike its somewhat bulkier relatives the flightless and Falkland steamer-ducks). All steamer-ducks are named for their paddle-wheel-like wing rowing display, which to European explorers apparently resembled early steamships. Flying steamer ducks are found on inland lakes and rivers; their flightless relatives are coastal. This pair (the male -- a fairly young bird in this case -- has the paler head) were living on Lagunas Mellizas in Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in south Chile. They were not very confiding and most of these images were taken with a long lens. The photos show a striking difference in the apperance of the water, due to various combinations of high winds vs. calm and cloud reflections vs. hillside reflections. |
|
|
|
