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TranslateTeal (Anas crecca)
Teal (Anas crecca) (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Anatidae
Length: 34 to 38cm. Wingspan: 58 to 64cm. Weight 250 to 400g
Lifespan 10 to 15 years.
Commonly known as the Common or Eurasian Teal. This species of duck being one of the smallest and one of the most common surface-feeding ducks in All over Europe, across into Russia and many Asian Countries. Migration is more into the southern countries of Europe, especially those bordering onto the Mediterranean Sea, during in the winter months. They Teal will be seen in large numbers, sometimes hundreds of birds at a time, but more commonly seen in smaller flocks of 20 to 40 birds. Being a highly gregarious (mixes well with similar birds) duck, when not in breeding season, being closely related to the Mallard Duck.
Habitat: More commonly found in sheltered freshwater wetlands including, marshes, small lakes, ponds, rivers, ditches and reservoirs, with lush aquatic plant growth, which can become potential breeding sites.
Nesting: April to June.
Nests are constructed on the ground near to the water’s edge, in a deep hollow, built with dry leaves and lined with down (feathers). Between 8 to 11 eggs are laid and are incubated for around 22 days, the young leave the nest soon after hatching and the female will attend to them, approximately for another 28 to 30 days.
One brood a year are raised just by the female, as the male will leave as soon as she starts laying her eggs. He will then begin to moult into what is called an “eclipse-plumage” phase, this is when his plumage becomes more like, the drab hen duck. He will remain flightless for about 4 weeks during the “moult-stage”. If the female is successful in raising her young, it will only be the early winter months he may encounter his offspring.
Feeding: In the breeding months The Common Teal will eat a wide range of aquatic invertebrates, (animals lacking a backbone) such as various insects and their larvae, crustaceans, molluscs and worms are also eaten. In the winter months, obviously lacking most of the forementioned food supply, the Teal will then shift more to a granivorous (grain or seeds) diet, as well as plants and various grasses.
Read MoreFamily: Anatidae
Length: 34 to 38cm. Wingspan: 58 to 64cm. Weight 250 to 400g
Lifespan 10 to 15 years.
Commonly known as the Common or Eurasian Teal. This species of duck being one of the smallest and one of the most common surface-feeding ducks in All over Europe, across into Russia and many Asian Countries. Migration is more into the southern countries of Europe, especially those bordering onto the Mediterranean Sea, during in the winter months. They Teal will be seen in large numbers, sometimes hundreds of birds at a time, but more commonly seen in smaller flocks of 20 to 40 birds. Being a highly gregarious (mixes well with similar birds) duck, when not in breeding season, being closely related to the Mallard Duck.
Habitat: More commonly found in sheltered freshwater wetlands including, marshes, small lakes, ponds, rivers, ditches and reservoirs, with lush aquatic plant growth, which can become potential breeding sites.
Nesting: April to June.
Nests are constructed on the ground near to the water’s edge, in a deep hollow, built with dry leaves and lined with down (feathers). Between 8 to 11 eggs are laid and are incubated for around 22 days, the young leave the nest soon after hatching and the female will attend to them, approximately for another 28 to 30 days.
One brood a year are raised just by the female, as the male will leave as soon as she starts laying her eggs. He will then begin to moult into what is called an “eclipse-plumage” phase, this is when his plumage becomes more like, the drab hen duck. He will remain flightless for about 4 weeks during the “moult-stage”. If the female is successful in raising her young, it will only be the early winter months he may encounter his offspring.
Feeding: In the breeding months The Common Teal will eat a wide range of aquatic invertebrates, (animals lacking a backbone) such as various insects and their larvae, crustaceans, molluscs and worms are also eaten. In the winter months, obviously lacking most of the forementioned food supply, the Teal will then shift more to a granivorous (grain or seeds) diet, as well as plants and various grasses.
