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| Common Name: | Chiloe wigeon | Family: | Anatidae |
| Latin Name: | Anas sibilatrix | Diet: | Herbivore |
| Type: | Bird | Habitat: | Oceans and wetlands |
| Native To: | South America | Social Unit: | Various |
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern |
Chiloe wigeon at Edinburgh Zoo
Here at Edinburgh Zoo we have two adult Chiloe wigeon. The male hatched in June 1995 and came to us in September 1995 from the Martin Meer Wildfowl & Wetland Trust while the female also hatched in 1995 and arrived here in March 1996. In June 2008, their first two chicks hatched – a male and a female.
Where it can be found at Edinburgh Zoo
Our Chiloe wigeon share their enclosure with our Chilean flamingos and scarlet ibis on the right as you enter the Zoo.
Chiloe wigeon in the wild
The Chiloe wigeon (Anas sibilatrix) is found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the Falkland Islands, Paraguay and Uruguay. Their name comes from the Chiloe Island off the coast of southern Chile.
Chiloe wigeon are quite colourful ducks, with males and females only differing slightly. The male has a white face with a patch of green on the back of the head. Although the female has the same colouring it is duller with less white on the face. The breast is light orange and the feathers on the back are brown and white. Both sexes have a blue bill with a black tip and their legs and feet are grey.
They live on lakes, marshes and rivers feeding on aquatic plants, plankton, grass, vegetation and crustaceans. Although they mostly feed on land, they will also forage in the water.
Once a nest has been built amongst grass and weeds, the female then lays between five to ten eggs which she then incubates for approximately four weeks. Although the male does not help with incubation, he stays close to the nest to protect it and his mate from danger. Once the ducklings have hatched both parents take care of them and once they are six weeks old their feathers have grown in. The lifespan of the Chiloe wigeon is approximately twenty years.
The Chiloe wigeon population is affected by both hunting and habitat loss.
IUCN Red List category: Least Concern
Adopt a Chiloe wigeon A great way to support RZSS – buy it for yourself or as a gift for the animal lover in your life!
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