Nesting / Breeding:
Teals usually nest near favored freshwater lakes and marshes, usually on the ground, but also in tree holes or rabbit burrows.
Teal Species:
- Auckland Islands Teal, Anas aucklandica
- Baikal Teal, Anas formosa
- Bernier’s Teal or Madagascar Teal, Anas bernier
- Black Teal aka New Zealand Scaup, Aythya novaeseelandiae
- Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors
- Brown Teal or New Zealand Teal, Anas chlorotis
- Campbell Island Teal Anas nesiotis
- Cape Teal, Anas capensis
- Chestnut Teal, Anas castanea
- Cinnamon Teal, Anas cyanoptera
- Common Teal, Anas crecca
- Green-winged Teal, Anas carolinensis
- Grey Teal, Anas gracilis
- Hottentot Teal, Anas hottentota
- Marbled Teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris
- Puna Teal, Anas puna
- Ringed Teal, Callonetta leucophrys
- Silver Teal, Anas versicolor
- Speckled Teal, Anas flavirostris
Diet / Feeding:
Teals usually feed by dabbling, upending (feeding upside down in water) or grazing on land. They may submerge the head and on occasion even dive to reach food. In the breeding season, they eat mainly aquatic invertebrates, such as crustaceans, insects and their larvae, mollusks and worms.
In winter, they shift to a largely granivorous diet, feeding on seeds of aquatic plants and grasses, including sedges and grains.
Diurnal throughout the breeding season, in winter they are often crepuscular or even nocturnal feeders.
More Duck Resources
Photo Gallery
