Comb Duck

<em>Sarkidiornis sylvicola</em>, the South American comb duck, is a large waterfowl in the family Anatidae, assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It inhabits tropical and subtropical wetlands, including flooded grasslands, marshes, rivers, and lakes in lowland South America, with occurrence records from Colombia, Venezuela, and associated countries. The species is recognized by the conspicuous knob or comb on the bill of adult males, a secondary sexual characteristic that distinguishes it from the closely related African comb duck (<em>Sarkidiornis melanotos</em>). <em>S. sylvicola</em> is a strong flier that undertakes local seasonal movements in response to water availability and flooding patterns. It nests in tree cavities and forages on aquatic vegetation, seeds, and invertebrates in shallow water and flooded fields. The species maintains a stable population and is not considered threatened.