Alternative Names (Synonyms)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Aviculture references:
B7, B29, B30 B31, B40, B94, B95, B97, B128.w1, B128.w2).
D1, D8

Other References

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Waterfowl
• Dabbling Ducks

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

Aviculture information

Notes

• Dabbling Ducks are generally hardy, easy to maintain and easy to breed. Shelter may be required by some of the smaller species in winter. They should be provided with cover (including marginal pond cover) and loafing areas as well as water. A pen which is 50% water is suggested. The water may be shallow (i.e. no more than two feet deep is required), and muddy areas for dabbling in are also appreciated. These ducks are generally good in mixed collections, although the smaller and quieter species may be bullied. Territorial disputes between ducks of the same species may be avoided by keeping only one pair of each species in an enclosure, unless the area is very large. For a single pair of ducks a pen are of 50 to 100 square metres, depending on the size of duck, should be provided.
• A diet based on wheat and pellets is suggested, with maintenance pellets changed to breeders pellets for the breeding season. Bread and greenfood are also appreciated. Grit should always be available, with soluble grit (e.g. oystershell grit) as a calcium source when breeding.
• Most species are ground nesters and both close ground cover and ground level nest boxes should be provided. Hand-rearing is generally preferred, as these ducks are generally poor parents in captive conditions, particularly in enclosures shared with other waterfowl. These ducks are prone to hybridization, particularly with closely related species, which should be kept apart from one another.

(B7, B29, B30, B40, B94, B128.w1, D1)

Species-specific information:

• Cinnamon teal are reasonably hardy but protection from frost suggested. Quiet, and suitable for mixed collections with other small ducks, they may be aggressive while nesting. Shallow, muddy water and good marginal pond vegetation should be provided. Feed as other dabbling ducks, with extra animal material while breeding and rearing.
• These ducks breed fairly readily. Good natural cover such as long grass near water is desirable for nesting, but they may occasionally use ground-level nest boxes or baskets. May lay in April to May (B29) or early May to July (B31). Broody or artificial hatching and rearing of the delicate ducklings is suggested, with good protection from wet and cold. Chopped green food and mealworms should be added to starter crumbs to encourage feeding initially.
• Readily hybridise with Anas discors - Blue-winged teal; should not be kept in same enclosure; hybrids also reported with Anas platalea - Red shoveler, Anas platyrhynchos - Mallard, Anas clypeata - Northern shoveler, , Anas flavirostris - Speckled teal, , Anas querquedula - Garganey, , Aix sponsa - Wood duck.

(B7, B29, B30 B31, B40, B95, B97, B128.w2).

Aviornis UK Ringing Scheme recommended average ring size: H 8.0mm (D8).

Management Techniques

Measurement & Weight

Head

Eclipse: grey.

Anas cyanoptera orinomus: longer bill.

Legs

Plumage

Wings have primaries and their coverts black-brown, rest of coverts grey-blue with broad white tips to greater coverts, secondaries metallic green.

Eclipse: similar to female but rusty wash to plumage and retains male wing pattern.

Anas cyanoptera cyanoptera: male has browner abdomen, sometimes dark spotting on sides of breast, overall deeper red.

Anas cyanoptera tropica: heavy black spotting on underparts, blackish abdomen.

Anas cyanoptera borreroi: about half of males have spotted underparts.

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

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Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

Anas cyanoptera tropica north-western Columbia

Anas cyanoptera borreroi eastern Andes, Columbia

Anas cyanoptera orinomus Andes, Peru to northern Chile

Anas cyanoptera cyanoptera southern Peru and southern Brazil southward to Tierra del Fuego and Falkland Islands.

Partially migratory: northernmost and southernmost populations move to lower latitudes for winter, to subtropical areas.

Temperate populations basically sedentary.

Vagrant to Alaska.

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Habitat

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Common to locally abundant (B1).

Captive Populations

Trade