American Comb Duck
Sarkidiornis sylvicola
The comb duck or American comb duck, is an unusual duck found in tropical wetlands in continental South America south to the Paraguay River region in eastern Paraguay, southeastern Brazil and extreme northeastern Argentina, and as a vagrant on Trinidad.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comb_duck
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Anseriformes
Family
Anatidae
Genus
Sarkidiornis
American Comb Duck belongs to the family Anatidae, order Anseriformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
The comb duck or American comb duck, is an unusual duck found in tropical wetlands in continental South America south to the Paraguay River region in eastern Paraguay, southeastern Brazil and extreme northeastern Argentina, and as a vagrant on Trinidad.
The American Comb Duck faces significant pressure from widespread habitat loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems throughout its range in South America. Deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urban development have reduced available nesting sites and feeding areas, while hunting pressure and water pollution further threaten remaining populations.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater wetlands, oxbow lakes, flooded forests, and riparian areas with dense vegetation cover throughout tropical South America. The species prefers shallow waters with abundant aquatic vegetation and nearby forest areas for roosting and nesting.
Threats
Deforestation of riparian forests
Wetland habitat loss and degradation
Agricultural expansion and conversion
Hunting pressure
Water pollution and contamination
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). American Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis sylvicola). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/american-comb-duck