Stiff-tailed duck
The stiff-tailed ducks, the genus Oxyura, are part of the Oxyurini tribe of ducks.
| Stiff-tailed duck Temporal range: Early Miocene to present | |
|---|---|
| Male white-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Tribe: | Oxyurini |
| Genus: | Oxyura Bonaparte, 1828 |
| Type species | |
| Anas rubidus (ruddy duck) Wilson, 1814 | |
| Species | |
|
Oxyura australis | |
| Key:
Oxyura vittata
Oxyura ferruginea
Oxyura maccoa
Oxyura leucocephala
Oxyura jamaicensis
Oxyura australis | |
All have, as their name implies, long, stiff tail feathers, which are erected when the bird is resting. All have relatively large, swollen bills. These are freshwater diving ducks. Their legs are set far back, which makes them awkward on land, so they rarely leave the water.
Their unusual displays involve drumming noises from inflatable throat sacs, head throwing, and erecting short crests. Plumage sequences are complicated, and aging difficult. Plumage is vital for survival because of this animal's tendency to spend time in the water.
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