Approx 10cm in length. Desperate to ID down as much as possible. Skull was found as is and appeared undamaged. On a beach, on the central east coast of Brazil.
Many Thanks!
Dan
also, this bird skull seems to had a free moving quadrate, because you can se below the temporal surface for the mandibular musculature attachment a quite large cavity for the articulation of the head of the quadrate...
surely... the maxilar process of the jugal is anteriorly projected but free of articulating with the maxilla... as in several Anseriformes... check the diversity of acuatic anseriform birds in this coast line and you will have the answer!
Comparing the photos with specimens in my college's collection, the closest match is a goose-sized Anatid. The paired occipital fenestrae visible in the second photo (looks like a little handle in the profile) is present in the specimens I have access to.
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