# Anas flavirostris oxyptera The Yellow-billed Duck is a beautiful bird with a bright yellow bill. It loves to swim in lakes and rivers, making it a fun sight to see while exploring nature! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Yellow-billed Duck ![Anas flavirostris oxyptera](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sharp-winged_Teal%252C_subspecies_of_the_Yellow-billed_Pintail_%28Anas_flavirostris_oxyptera%29_%284%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ken Billington, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sharp-winged_Teal%252C_subspecies_of_the_Yellow-billed_Pintail_%28Anas_flavirostris_oxyptera%29_%284%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Anas flavirostris oxyptera has a distinctive bright yellow bill with a black tip and a dark brown crown contrasting with pale cheeks. Its body plumage is mottled brown, appearing duller than some related ducks, and it features an iridescent green patch on its secondary wing feathers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Anas ## Interesting facts - Its bright yellow bill helps it stand out against the rocky, high-altitude landscapes it calls home. - Puna Teals sometimes feed by "dabbling," tipping their bodies to reach underwater plants. - They are adapted to cold mountain temperatures and can often be seen swimming in icy waters. - This duck often makes its nest hidden amongst dense vegetation near the water's edge. ## Special abilities - **High-Altitude Survivor:** Anas flavirostris oxyptera can thrive in thin air because it lives at very high elevations in the Andes mountains. - **Underwater Forager:** Anas flavirostris oxyptera can dive and search for food underwater, helping them find tasty plants and invertebrates. - **Swift Flyer:** Anas flavirostris oxyptera has strong wings that help them fly quickly across vast distances between high-altitude lakes. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 35-45 cm - **Wingspan:** 58-67 cm - **Weight:** 0.35-0.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-8 - **Incubation:** 24-26 days ## Diet & Feeding These ducks eat a mix of aquatic plants and tiny insects found in their mountain water homes. - **Primary Foods:** aquatic plants, seeds, aquatic insects, small crustaceans, mollusks - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Streaked Pondweed (*Potamogeton striatus*) — Consumes its leaves and seeds as a food source. - **Eats:** Bloodworm (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Feeds on the larvae of this common midge species. - **Eaten by:** Andean Fox (*Lycalopex culpaeus*) — Can be prey for this opportunistic high-altitude predator. - **Eaten by:** Variable Hawk (*Buteo polyosoma*) — Juveniles or adults may be hunted by this powerful raptor. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch ducks from a distance and don't feed them bread. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Anas flavirostris oxyptera? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Anas flavirostris oxyptera? 35-45 cm ### What is Anas flavirostris oxyptera's wingspan? 58-67 cm ### How much does Anas flavirostris oxyptera weigh? 0.35-0.5 kg ### How long does Anas flavirostris oxyptera live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Anas flavirostris oxyptera move? 60 km/h ### What does Anas flavirostris oxyptera eat? These ducks eat a mix of aquatic plants and tiny insects found in their mountain water homes. ### Where is Anas flavirostris oxyptera usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Anas flavirostris oxyptera: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/anas-flavirostris-oxyptera)