The Spectacled Duck, also known as the Bronze-winged Duck, is one of the few true river ducks in the world and one of the most distinctive waterfowl of the southern Andes and Patagonian forests. It is a shy and elusive species, most often encountered singly or in pairs rather than in flocks. Its most striking feature is the brilliant speculum, which flashes vivid color in good light and gives the species its English name.
The plumage is marked by a dark brown hood, a conspicuous white oval patch on the face, and a broad white crescent across the throat. The back is deep chocolate-brown, contrasting with a paler gray-buff abdomen. Because of its small global population — estimated at fewer than 7,000 individuals — it is currently classified as Near Threatened.
