Tachyeres Research Articles

Notes on the Behavior of the Flying Steamer Duck

THE steamer ducks of the genus Tachyeres are a small group of three closely related species of diving ducks, confined to the colder southern part of the neotropical region. They are all dull grayish or brownish birds, very massive and heavy, with short wings and heavy bills; superficially similar to the large eiders of the northern hemisphere in general proportions and ecological adaptations. Their common name derives from their practice of steaming along the surface of the water, using their wings as paddles and churning up the water like the oldfashioned side-wheel steamers. Two of the species are so heavy and short-winged that they are essentially flightless. They can raise the body partly out of the water during steaming; but they cannot leave the surface completely. The third species is lighter and capable of real sustained flight in the air for short periods. One of the flightless species, brachypterus, is confined to the Falkland Islands; while the other, pteneres, is found in the magellanic region of continental South America, Tierra del Fuego, and some of the adjacent islands. The Flying Steamer Duck, patachonicus, is more widely distributed, and is found throughout the ranges of both the flightless forms. Some of the habits of the steamer ducks have been described in previous publications (see Murphy, 1936); but very little has been recorded about their special social signal behavior patterns. It may be of interest, therefore, to describe and analyze some of the hostile and sexual reactions of Flying Steamer Ducks which I observed during November and December of 1956, along the east coast of Tierra del Fuego, near Viamonte, Argentina, and the north coast of the same island, near Porvenir and Gente Grande, Chile. This may help to reveal or explain some of the basic factors regulating such behavior, and may also clarify the systematic position of the group. It has been found that some hostile, sexual, and associated patterns, especially the ritualized patterns or displays, i.e. those behavior patterns which have become specialized (standardized and/or exaggerated in physical form) in order to subserve a social signal function, may provide reliable indications of phylogenetic relationships (see Lorenz, 1951-53). (Those patterns apparently ritualized, I indicate with capitalized names.) Most of my observations of the Flying Steamer Duck were made in the open, without cover; but it was sometimes possible to use an empty building or some natural obstruction as a blind. I was able to watch

Godman–Salvin Gold Medal of the British Ornithologists' Union: Award to Mr. P. R. Lowe, O.B.E

THE British Ornithologists' Union has conferred the highest honour in its gift, the Godman-Salvin Gold Medal, to Mr. Percy R. Lowe for his researches in bird anatomy and his work for the preservation of birds. The Medal was instituted in 1919 as a memorial to two great ornithologists and original members of the Union, F. du Cane Godman and Osbert Salving to be awarded for outstanding work in ornithology by a member of the Union. Mr. Lowe's work on the anatomy of birds is generally admitted to be of the highest order, and though some may not have agreed with his conclusions, this has in no way diminished their regard for him as an outstanding anatomist. His studies in anatomy were commenced on his favourite group, the Charadriiformes, and he has contributed much towards the classification of these birds and their relation to each other as well as to other families and groups. His work on the ostriches and penguins was no less fruitful, and though his paper on the anatomy of the steamer duck evoked criticism from some American zoologists, this did not deter the late Dr. Chapman from specially requesting Mr. Lowe to investigate the wing muscles of Gould's manakin, having regard to the complicated nuptial display of this bird.

XXXI.—On the Evidence for the Existence of Two Species of Steamer Duck (Tachyeres), and Primary and Secondary Flight‐lessness in Birds.

XXXI.—<i>On the Evidence for the Existence of Two Species of Steamer Duck</i> (Tachyeres), <i>and Primary and Secondary Flight‐lessness in Birds</i>.