The Common Teal is one of the smallest and most abundant waterfowl species in the world, and it can be found across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Despite its name, the Common Teal isn’t common everywhere; this migratory bird prefers open water and semi-open country with some scattered trees or shrubs to perch in during the non-breeding season. When breeding begins in early spring, males establish territories on shallow ponds or lakeshores, where they perform courtship displays as they try to attract a mate.
What does the name teal mean?
One of three species of ducks is known as dabbling ducks. They are medium-sized, have brightly colored bills, and are often found in small groups or pairs. Their numbers include green, blue, and a very rare white teal. Teal feeds mainly on aquatic plants but they will eat insects when they are present in abundance. The female builds a nest made from grasses and down under bushes near water bodies. The male courts her by jumping up and down while displaying his wings to catch her attention. Once she has laid eggs, both parents incubate them for about 30 days before hatching occurs at night when there is no risk of predators attacking them.
Where can you see teals?
You can see winter teals in water storage, stone holes, and floodplains. The American crested teal breeds across North America. In North America, there are three races, each named for a different subspecies of Northern Shoveler: Anas acuta acuta (Atlantic or eastern teal), A. a. carolinensis (Carolina or southern teal), and A. a. crecca (western or blue-winged teal). They sometimes hybridize with other dabbling ducks such as mallards, canvasbacks, gadwall, and northern shovelers (Mowbray 1987). Teals typically breed once per year but may re-nest if their first clutch is lost.
What kind of habitats do teals prefer?
Teals prefer freshwater habitats with plentiful vegetation. Both dabbling and diving species forage in shallow water, grazing on aquatic plants and mollusks. Dabbling teals usually have a large range of movement during the breeding season; diving teals are more sedentary, though some will travel to different marshes at different times of the year.
Teals and their young look similar to each other.: A group of ducks is called a flock or raft. A group of geese is called a gaggle or skein. A group of swans is called a bevy or wedge, except for when they're flying — then it's an arrow! :) Ducks tend to be smaller than geese but larger than swans. Ducks have flat bills that allow them to feed underwater, while geese and swans have long bills that help them filter food from the water above land or ice.
How are teals different from other waterfowl?
Teals are pretty, little dabbling ducks that can be easily spotted in winter on reservoirs, gravel pits, and flooded meadows. Teals are small (weighing between two and four pounds), they have short tails, tiny bills, and bright yellow eyes. Teals often dive underwater to feast on mollusks and insects. They also snatch up bits of plant matter as they swim. While teals are very active in their feeding habits, they like to perch on floating vegetation such as plants or logs to rest for a few minutes before taking off again for more food or water. Male teal ducks have a striking metallic blue coloring; females have gray-brown plumage with green and brown speckles.
What do they eat?
Teal are dabbling ducks which means they can both dive and tip up to feed. Since they live in a variety of habitats, their diets will vary based on what is most abundant in that area. In farmland ponds and lakes, teal will eat mostly seeds and leaves. On streams, rivers, and lakes in forested areas, their diet consists of aquatic plants including duckweed. In ocean habitats, teal will consume crustaceans such as amphipods.
Where do they spend their time when they’re not feeding?
When they’re not feeding, many species of dabbling ducks like to rest in flooded fields and meadows. These dabbler ducks are also known as puddle ducks and are named for their preference to spend their time near small bodies of water, although they can often be found on golf courses and other areas that contain shallow puddles. Teal birds tend to favor these types of habitats because it gives them easy access to fish when they go out hunting. When wetlands dry up in summer, a lot of these birds will move into farmlands or grasslands where there is plenty of prey for them to feed on.
What is unique about their eggs?
Teal bird’s eggs are pale blue and spotted with reddish-brown or lavender. Each egg has a single small, white spot. Incubation time is about 28 days, which is similar to that of other dabbling ducks. The downy hatchlings are precocial and able to swim immediately upon hatching. They grow quickly and can fly in 45–50 days. Females will lay their first clutch of eggs at one year old; males will not breed until they are two years old. The oldest recorded teal was 10 years and 6 months old!
How long do they live?
Most species of teal are migratory, breeding in Alaska and northern Canada. They spend winters in southern states such as Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. However, during migration they can be spotted almost anywhere, there is water. The oldest known wild mallard was about 14 years old when it was shot by a hunter.
