The Chiloë Wigeon is a distinctive and attractive looking duck, with a black and white head, while in flight it has a very conspicuous white crescent on the upper wings. The black of the head has a purple or green sheen to it when viewed in the sun.

While they are regular and widespread, they are one of the less numerous of the Falkland ducks. They are encountered in the lower areas of the Falklands, and usually in those that have large areas of lakes and ponds, especially Lafonia and on West Falkland between Fox Bay and Chartres. As well as occurring on large ponds, they can be seen feeding on areas of coastal kelp or on green pasture near shores. Their nest is well hidden amongst grass and can be a long way from the nearest water.

They are common in southern Argentina and Chile. Some of the breeding birds migrate north from there as far as Paraguay, Uruguay and south-eastern Brazil. They have also been found as vagrants in South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands.

2p - Dolphin Gull Larus scoresbii

Dolphin gulls are a medium sized gull, with a striking dove grey plumage and red bill. They live to at least nine years old and are common around the coast of the Falklands, with an estimated population of 3-6,000. Small numbers also occur around southern Argentina and Chile, making the Falklands the centre of their world distribution. Small numbers have been banded in the Falklands and in Patagonia, and none of these have been found to move between these areas.

They have a varied diet and are often seen in association with rookeries of other birds such as albatrosses and penguins, or at seal colonies. From these they often take regurgitated fish or eggs. In Stanley they can often be seen dropping mussels onto Ross Road to break their shells. In winter flocks form around slaughterhouses when sheep or cattle are being killed.

They breed during summer (December-March) in small colonies in a range of coastal habitats, including sand or shingle beaches, tussac-covered rocky headlands or in grass by ponds.

5p - Falkland Flightless Steamer Duck Tachyeres brathypterus

A large, heavily built duck, the Falkland Flightless Steamer Duck is endemic to the Falkland Islands (although there are two similar species in southern South America). They are grey-brown in colour with either orange or yellow bills, depending on the sex. They are one of the most familiar Falkland Island birds and are very common around the islands in coastal areas, usually being seen in shallow water, either in bays and estuaries, but often also in the surging open ocean where there are large kelp beds. They have short wings and so cannot fly, though they can use their wings to propel themselves rapidly across the water surface (steaming) either to escape danger or during territorial disputes. During winter they often gather into large flocks. They are often a quite noisy bird, calling frequently during the day or night.

They usually nest close to the shore in cover such as diddle-dee or tussac. Only the female incubates the eggs while the male waits offshore defending their territory. They produce up to 11 eggs in a clutch, though there is high mortality of these. The adults though, have few natural predators.

10p - Black-throated Finch Melanodera melanodera

These are small, ground feeding finches. They are often quite inconspicuous and are first noted when disturbed and they fly a short distance away from the observer giving a characteristic high pitched si call. They are quite common throughout most of the islands feeding either on seeds of grasses, or berries of small bushes such as Diddle-dee, Tea-berry or Mountain berry. In summer they are usually encountered in pairs, but in winter can be seen in groups of up to 1,000 in sand dunes.

Males and females are quite different in appearance, with the males (illustrated) having a blue grey head with a black and white throat patch and yellow underparts, while the female is rather dull and heavily streaked with brown and grey-buff.

As well as occurring on the Falkland Islands, they are found in southern South America, where the numbers are thought to have declined due to the effects of agriculture. They are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Data Deficient.

22p - White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland

The White-tufted Grebe is a small bird, mostly of freshwater ponds, but also found close inshore in coastal waters and tidal creeks during winter. They are very readily identifiable in their breeding plumage, showing a black head and back, with conspicuous white triangular ear tufts on each side of their head. Additionally, they show a crest at most times. Young birds, and adults during winter, are much duller, being mostly brown above and whitish below.

Their diet mostly consists of small fish, crustaceans and aquatic plants that are obtained by diving. They can remain under the surface of the water for up to 20 seconds. In the Falklands they are most common in low lying areas, especially south of the Wickham Heights on East Falkland, although they can occur in any suitable low lying areas, including many medium sized islands such as Saunders, Speedwell or Lively Islands. They nest on floating waterweeds under overhanging banks or in rushes.

White-tufted Grebes occur in South America as far north as Peru. Falkland Island birds are much bigger (as much as 10 cm) than South American ones, and are considered a separate sub-species.

25p - Rufous-chested Dotterel Charadrius modestus

The Rufous-chested Dotterel is a small plover, though slightly bigger than the other species of plover (the Two-banded Plover) that commonly occurs in the Falklands. They are widespread and are often encountered breeding in camp a long way from the coast or any areas of water. They usually breed on drier slopes among diddle-dee and white grass. At this time they have a striking rufous and black breast, making them instantly recognisable. They are also quite vocal when disturbed.

After breeding they are common on the coast including mudflats and beaches, as well as wet grassy areas. They can form flocks of several hundreds of birds. There is some debate as to whether all or some of the population from the Falklands migrates to the South American mainland during winter. They are widespread in South America where they breed in the southern regions, many migrating into northern Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil in winter.

45p - Upland Goose Chloephaga picta

The Upland Goose is one of the most characteristic Falkland Island birds. They are very common in areas with short green grass, such as that around settlements and by ponds and lakes. They are very common along the foreshore in Stanley, on the playing fields and on Victory Green. They can be observed almost anywhere throughout the islands. In past times they have been considered an agricultural pest with a bounty on each bill, although it has been found that they only eat about 1.5 % of the annual production of vegetation, very little in comparison with other herbivores, such as sheep and cattle.

Upland Geese begin breeding in September in a wide variety of nest sites that offer them cover. In December, immature birds and non-breeders gather by ponds and beaches to moult their flight feathers. At this time they become flightless and so escape danger by swimming away. Generally, they are quite confiding of humans.

Despite past persecution, culling and taking for food throughout there centuries of human habitation, Upland Geese are still very numerous in the Falkland Islands and in South America. Their presence to many is an integral part of the Falklands landscape.

50p - Dark-faced Ground-tyrant Muscisaxicola macloviana

The Dark-faced Ground-tyrant is the sole breeding representative in the islands of the largest family of American birds, the tyrant-flycatchers Tyrannidae. These are slender and active grey birds. They are often observed on the ground where they run and hop rapidly, often pausing briefly, at which time they flick and fan their tail and wings. Their flight is agile, often hovering either to catch prey in flight, or before dropping to the ground to pounce.

They are common throughout the islands in all open habitats, especially near stone runs, rocky outcrops, coastal cliffs and beaches. They breed in crevices in rocks or in stone runs. In winter they frequently visit Stanley and camp settlements. They are usually considered sedentary in the Falklands; they also breed in southern South America where some of the population migrates north as far as Uruguay and Peru. They are occasionally seen some distance out to sea off the Falklands in spring or autumn, suggesting some movements, either of local birds moving to the mainland, or of South American birds getting blown to the Falklands.

95p - Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax

The Black-crowned Night-heron is a very widespread bird, occurring worldwide on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. The adults are a rather squat grey heron with a very distinct black back and crown. They also have two long white plumes from the back of their heads that extend as far as their shoulders. Young birds are brown and heavily streaked. They are usually observed in the evenings, feeding on the foreshore, especially where there are rock pools. When they are disturbed, they fly off giving a harsh kwark call, from which their local name (Quark) is derived. They usually eat small fish, aquatic insects and larvae as well as sometimes eating small birds.

Black-crowned Night-herons nest in small colonies of up to 100 pairs, often on low rocky cliffs that have vegetation such as low shrubs or tussac grass. They also may nest in coastal fringes of tussac grass or in trees around settlements. They usually begin breeding by October, and sometimes rear two broods.

£1 - Red-backed Hawk Buteo polyosoma

This is a medium large species of hawk with a rounded head, a short tail and rounded wings with widely spread primary feathers. They are highly variable in colour, though all adults have a pale tail with a black sub-terminal band. Usually, the males are blue-grey above, while the females are reddy-brown on the back, both have pale underparts. However there are some birds of both sexes that are mainly black.

They are a widespread bird in the Falklands, occurring throughout most of the larger islands. They usually nest on ledges and in rocky crags, though they have also been reported to nest on the ground or on radar masts at Mt Pleasant. They can become quite aggressive in defending their nest. There is some indication that their population in the Falklands has increased since the 1950’s, and it is thought this to be due to the introduction of rats, mice, rabbits and hares, which form a large part of their diet, although they also eat many geese. They are widely distributed in South America, occurring north as far as Colombia and south-eastern Brazil.

£3 - Black-necked Swan Cygnus melancoryphus

Black-necked Swans are a typical elegant swan with a white body and black head and neck. In the Falklands they are most common on East Falkland and especially throughout Lafonia, on large freshwater lakes supporting aquatic vegetation on which they feed. They usually breed on islets in ponds or near areas of water where they can feed. During winter they usually gather in flocks of up to 150 birds in favoured places such as the River Murrell near Stanley, Swan Inlet near Choiseul Sound or near Bull Point. They are a rather shy bird at all times.

The Black-necked Swan is quite a common species in South America, occurring north as far as Brazil and Paraguay. They breed commonly in southern areas of South America including Tierra del Fuego. Southern birds in South America are thought to migrate north for winter, and there have been some suggestions that birds from the Falklands also do some migrating, although this is inconclusive.

£5 - Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

The Short-eared Owl is a large owl with a widespread distribution over much of Europe, Asia and the Americas. In the Falklands they are rather uncommon, with an estimate of the population suggesting it may be no more than 1-200 birds. Most observations of breeding in the Falklands have been from offshore tussac islands. While on the islands, small breeding petrels such as Wilson’s and Grey-backed Storm-petrels, Diving-petrels, and Thin-billed Prions make up a large proportion of their diet, which they possibly catch in flight as they arrive back from feeding at sea. They also often feed on Camel-crickets. Occasionally they also breed in areas of long grass, rush or around settlements. During winter they are more widely distributed, occurring over open camp.

In appearance they are mottled and barred with dark brown. They have a light buff facial disc surrounded by black feathers with small ear tufts. Their flight is very distinctive with slow deep wingbeats and intermittent glides.

Stamp Booklet
The booklet contains eight self-adhesive airamil postcard stamps featuring the Rockhopper penguin
These are the 1st self-adhesive stamps from the Falkland Islands.

Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome

Rockhopper Penguins are instantly recognisable birds, black and white with long shaggy yellow crests and red bills. They are noisy and quarrelsome at the nest, and quite vocal while feeding at sea. When they are away from their nests they can feed significant distances offshore and they feed on a variety of prey including squid, fish and krill. During the winter they may migrate a considerable distance north of the Falklands to seas off the coast of Argentina.

They nest in large colonies on cliff tops or cliff sides, often in association with Black-browed Albatrosses and Imperial Shags. They can be seen approaching and leaving their colonies by hopping over the rocks, leaning well forward, then jumping with both feet together. They use traditional paths to their colonies, which often leaves a well worn trail through the rocks.

Rockhopper Penguins are the most numerous of the Falkland Island penguins, with approximately 272,000 pairs. Their population has declined dramatically in the 20th century, with estimates of declines of over 90% for many colonies. During the 19th century, many eggs were collected for food, while others were killed for their oil. Large numbers died during the moulting period (March) in 1985/6, possibly due to starvation. This occurred again to a lesser extent in 2002. Similar dramatic declines have been noted in other areas, including Campbell Island, south of New Zealand. Their world population is considered Vulnerable by the IUCN and the Falklands holds the majority of the world population.