Teal Bird Facts

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.

10 Fun Facts about Chameleons

You’ve probably heard of the common chameleon, also known as Chamaeleo Vulgaris or the veiled chameleon, even if you’ve never seen one in person before. These fascinating lizards have adapted to be able to blend into their environment and change color accordingly, making them pretty cool pets for some people. Here are 10 fun facts about common chameleons that you might not know!

1) They’re old – very old

Since there are numerous species of chameleon, it’s difficult to say exactly how old they are. Experts believe that chameleons first appeared somewhere between 70 and 80 million years ago during a period called The Cretaceous.

2) They are abundant in nature

There are approximately 150 species of chameleon in nature, each with its distinct appearance and color patterns. There is no such thing as a typical chameleon, which means that if you see one on your hike through the woods, it will probably be a pretty rare sighting. The Panther Chameleon is often seen in wildlife sanctuaries and wildlife stores in North America, while the Veiled Chameleons are rare.

3) The smallest species measure about 4 inches in length

Smaller chameleon species are under 4 inches long. Examples include Panther chameleons and Veiled chameleons. These tiny lizard pets make fantastic starter pets for children or people who aren’t sure if they want to dedicate a lot of time and energy to caring for an exotic pet. They can also be kept in smaller spaces than other chameleon species, making them ideal for apartment dwellers or people with limited space in their homes.

4) Chameleons belong to their own family

Chamaeleonidae. The Panther chameleon, a medium-sized type of chameleon, can be found in Madagascar. Their distinct color changes come from pigment cells that sit on top of a layer of crystals; as light hits these cells and changes their physical properties, they shift to reveal different colors. Due to their unique features, and because they are not endangered or threatened, we can responsibly choose to own them as pets.

5) They can change colors rapidly

The colors that they can change to may be affected by their mood, however, some of them can quickly change colors so they can camouflage themselves. For a chameleon to remain in one color, they have to remain still. If they move, it will cause their body and other elements around them (such as leaves) to catch different lights and reflect different colors, thus causing different tones of one color.

6) They can detect movement high up in the treetops

Chameleons are some of nature’s most agile creatures. They can climb any surface they want, which is why they’re often seen up in trees. But did you know that chameleons also have a third set of eyes on their upper head? These eyes aren’t used for seeing as our two main eyes are; rather, these sets of eyes help them focus when jumping from tree to tree or trying to grab bugs in mid-air.

7) There are more than 185 species of chameleon on earth.

The chameleon is a type of lizard that can live in many different places. They are known for changing color and doing so to fit in with their surroundings. Some types of chameleon live in trees and have long tongues so they can catch insects. But others live in bushes where they will quickly hide when it rains because they don’t like getting wet.

8) Their tongues are highly specialized to catch prey

The chameleon’s tongue is twice as long as its body and is composed of muscles, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When not in use, it can grow back inside of their bodies. If a chameleon attacks prey bigger than itself, it will be injured in doing so. Don’t believe it?

9) Their tail is used as a storehouse for water, helping them survive in arid regions

Unlike many lizards, chameleons can’t get water from their food because they eat insects and spiders, which don’t have much water in them. So a chameleon will often tuck its tail into plants or debris while it rests to absorb moisture, then swing its tail out later for quick gulps.

10) When they open their mouths, you can see their tongue darting back and forth, searching for insects.

The tongue is a prehensile appendage that can be used to catch prey, for grooming, and even to cover their eyes in self-defense. The chameleon’s tongue is also super sticky which gives them an extra grip when capturing prey. Chameleons can extend their tongues up to half of their body length! That would mean your pet chameleon could have a tongue over 9 inches long! Impressive right?

8 Interesting Python Facts You Probably Didn't Know

Python and pythons are nonvenomous snakes found in many tropical forests throughout the world. They’re commonly thought of as constrictors, although they only rarely kill their prey by coiling around it and squeezing it to death, unlike boas and vipers. In addition to being famous for swallowing huge prey items like small deer or pigs whole, pythons also have other fascinating facts about them that most people don’t know about. Here are 8 interesting python facts you probably didn’t know!

10 things you didn’t know about pythons

1. Pythons are very powerful, but their power is nothing compared to a python-eating snake (the king cobra). 2. Although they look intimidating, pythons aren’t poisonous. 3. It takes between two and five weeks for a baby python to be born - that's pretty quick! 4. Although they only eat small animals like rabbits, rats, or birds when young, adult pythons are capable of taking down an antelope or other large animal - although that wouldn't be easy! 5. The biggest known python was found in Florida in 2014; it was 17 feet long and weighed 170 lbs! 6.

Pythons kill other snakes

The king cobra is one of three species of snake known to attack and kill pythons. The reticulated python, which can grow up to 20 feet in length, tends to be hunted by Indian pythons, which can grow up to 23 feet in length. When threatened by predators such as eagles or other large mammals, the anaconda surrounds its prey and hardens to its death. Python facts reveal that some snakes are immune to their venom; whereas others die very quickly from it.

Pythons are not venomous, but they can bite

Because pythons are constrictors, not venomous snakes, they do not need to be able to inject their victims with poison. Even so, many species of python have a mouthful of teeth that can rip through animal flesh. Some even have sharp enough teeth to penetrate human skin! To make sure you don’t get bit by a python, don’t try to handle one yourself. If you’re in a situation where you need to remove one from your property, hire an experienced snake handler, and don’t try to catch it yourself. Getting bitten by a poisonous snake is painful and often fatal; getting bitten by any kind of python can cause complications due to bacterial infections.

Pythons are quite aggressive, especially when hungry

Pythons are a species of constrictor snake and have been known to take down prey much larger than themselves. There are several videos of old anaconda landing, and then eating, large animals such as deer or deer. And while there is no evidence that they would be able to tackle full-grown human beings, they could certainly kill a child. They are also one of few non-venomous snakes in existence who can kill with their bite!

Pythons like to swim

Pythons live in coastal regions, near rivers and lakes. Their flexibility lets them swim easily, and they can stay underwater for as long as 15 minutes. When hunting for fish or ducks, they catch their prey and drown before eating it. Despite their name, pythons are not constrictors—they don’t squeeze their prey to death before swallowing it whole. (That's a trait of boas.) Instead, snakes that catch large prey generally use a different method: coil around it and hold on until it dies from suffocation or lack of oxygen. Then, if a python is big enough to do so comfortably (and not just a hatchling), it swallows its prey whole.

Pythons like to climb trees

If there’s one animal you don’t want to run into in an African jungle, it’s a python. They can grow up to 23 feet long and kill their prey by coiling around them and squeezing until they suffocate. But, contrary to popular belief, pythons are not poisonous; rather, they subdue their victims by using their strength and size as weapons. Unlike other snakes that grit their food with their teeth to eat quickly during the journey, pythons like to enjoy a full-length lunch before digesting more time in their stomachs.

A python won’t eat as much as it can

The Burmese python is one of the five largest snakes in the world. It can grow as long as 20 feet and weigh 200 pounds. Although it can swallow prey that is equal to half its size, a python won’t eat more than it can handle. When not hunting, they barely move and will go weeks without eating at all. They usually consume smaller creatures such as frogs or birds but sometimes they will even eat other pythons! What do you think: Do pythons kill humans?

The biggest snake ever found was an African rock python.

The African rock python is one of three subspecies of African rock python, and according to Guinness World Records, it’s also home to the largest snake ever found. The 18-foot-long snake was killed in September 2011 by Jamie Steuber, a trainee ranger at Kruger National Park in South Africa. As well as being bigger than any other known snake on record, it weighed more than 550 pounds. These giant snakes can reach lengths up to 25 feet long and weigh over 450 pounds. Despite its terrifying appearance, however, there have been no reported attacks on humans by these reptiles. There are only a few documented cases where humans have even been attacked at all!