---
title: "Torrent Duck"
description: "Merganetta armata — Aves. The torrent duck (Merganetta armata) is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/pt/animal/torrent-duck
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Torrent Duck

> Merganetta armata — Aves. The torrent duck (Merganetta armata) is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae.

- Scientific name: *Merganetta armata*
- Category: `birds` (Aves)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lagos e rios), `mountains` (Montanhas)
- iNaturalist observations: 2209
- Wikidata: [Q914045](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q914045)
- iNaturalist taxon: [7168](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7168)

## Names

- en: Torrent Duck
- de: Sturzbachente
- es: Pato de torrente
- fr: Merganette des torrents
- nl: Bergbeekeend
- pl: Zbrojówka

## Countries with the most observations

EC (469), CL (385), AR (382), PE (373), CO (368), BO (100), VE (8)

## Summary

The torrent duck (Merganetta armata) is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is the only member of the genus Merganetta. It is placed in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae after the "perching duck" assemblage to which it was formerly assigned was dissolved because it turned out to be paraphyletic.
This 43–46-centimetre (17–18 in) long species is a resident breeder in the Andes of South America, nesting in small waterside caves and other sheltered spots. Like the blue duck, it holds territories on fast-flowing mountain rivers, usually above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). It is a powerful swimmer and diver…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrent_duck

## Photo

![Torrent Duck](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/torrent-duck/medium.jpg)

Photo: Francisco Liguori · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/320553659

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/torrent-duck?lang=pt` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).