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Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) (Menetries, 1832)
Family: Anatidae
Length 39 to 42cm Wingspan 63 to 70cm Weight: 240 to 600g
The Marbled Duck is also known as The Marbled Teal, this is a very rare duck, mainly due to many of their available habitats (mainly wetlands) being drained, then turned into agricultural land. The Marbled Teal has also been intensively hunted, over the last century. Egg collectors, pollution, and accidentally getting caught in fishing nets, as well as natural predators, are all a factor to this birds decline.
Habitat: Mainly found in shallow brackish or alkaline freshwater wetlands, slow flowing rivers, small lakes and ponds, with plenty of good vegetation growth.
The small populations of the Marbled Teal are mainly found around the Mediterranean countries, more prominently recorded in the south-western countries of Europe than the east. Although populations have been recorded as far east, into India and Russia.
Out of breeding season, Marbled Teal are usually seen in small flocks, starting to pair up together in the winter months. Like most ducks they are more active by feeding in the early morning and evening. They search around in shallow water and use their beaks, to filter the water and mud, for food. They feed mainly on small seeds and aquatic invertebrates.
A nesting site is usually constructed on the ground, close to the waters edge covered in dense vegetation, sometimes a nest maybe constructed off the ground amongst the reeds. When the female starts to incubate her eggs, (around 12 eggs are laid) her male partner will abandon her. After about 25 to 27 days the eggs will hatch. She will raise her chicks on her own, for a further two to three months, until they fledge.
Marbled teal fly low with slow wing beats, with their long necks and wings they are easily noticeable in flight.
Marbled teal are listed as vulnerable, by the IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) and are protected in most countries where they are found. In 2020 it is thought that less than 20,000 marbled teal, now remain in the world.
It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Water birds (AEWA) applies.
Read MoreFamily: Anatidae
Length 39 to 42cm Wingspan 63 to 70cm Weight: 240 to 600g
The Marbled Duck is also known as The Marbled Teal, this is a very rare duck, mainly due to many of their available habitats (mainly wetlands) being drained, then turned into agricultural land. The Marbled Teal has also been intensively hunted, over the last century. Egg collectors, pollution, and accidentally getting caught in fishing nets, as well as natural predators, are all a factor to this birds decline.
Habitat: Mainly found in shallow brackish or alkaline freshwater wetlands, slow flowing rivers, small lakes and ponds, with plenty of good vegetation growth.
The small populations of the Marbled Teal are mainly found around the Mediterranean countries, more prominently recorded in the south-western countries of Europe than the east. Although populations have been recorded as far east, into India and Russia.
Out of breeding season, Marbled Teal are usually seen in small flocks, starting to pair up together in the winter months. Like most ducks they are more active by feeding in the early morning and evening. They search around in shallow water and use their beaks, to filter the water and mud, for food. They feed mainly on small seeds and aquatic invertebrates.
A nesting site is usually constructed on the ground, close to the waters edge covered in dense vegetation, sometimes a nest maybe constructed off the ground amongst the reeds. When the female starts to incubate her eggs, (around 12 eggs are laid) her male partner will abandon her. After about 25 to 27 days the eggs will hatch. She will raise her chicks on her own, for a further two to three months, until they fledge.
Marbled teal fly low with slow wing beats, with their long necks and wings they are easily noticeable in flight.
Marbled teal are listed as vulnerable, by the IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) and are protected in most countries where they are found. In 2020 it is thought that less than 20,000 marbled teal, now remain in the world.
It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Water birds (AEWA) applies.
