Breeding

Modified from Young (2005):

Nesting birds are found in most months. Season varies through the range, October–April in the Andes, September–January in Patagonia, September-November in the Falklands Islands. Two (maybe three) broods. It breeds well above 4000 m. Nests on the ground, close to the water or well inland, built among grass, ferns or tussocks and down–lined. Eggs of both subspecies are ovate and cream colored. Clutch 5–8 eggs. Incubation period: 30 days, by female. Male plays an important role in the care of duckling from hatching to independence (Buitron and Nuechterlein 1989). Pairbond is apparently long-term. High levels of vigilance, cooperation by both adults and agressiveness allow the species to live in close proximity to gulls and skuas, in particular in open habitats with no emergent or dense vegetation for cover, such as the ponds where crested ducks are usually found. The fledging period is approximately 10–11 weeks (Weller 1972).