Alternative Names (Synonyms)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Other references:
B138

Aviculture references:
B7, B29, B30, B31, B40, B94, B95, B96, B97, B108, B128.w2, B129)
D1, D8B128.w1

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
• The Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Earthkind
• The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

• Waterfowl Management Guidelines
• Proceedings of the Waterfowl Information Network Conference 1999
• Wetlands, Industry and Wildlife
• London Waterfowl Project FAQ's
• The Electronic Library: further reading for "Wildlife: Oil Spill Response"

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:

• Common teal are generally hardy, but shelter from frost should be available. They are easy to manage, but tend to be secretive (particularly Anas crecca crecca). Lakes with ample shoreline vegetation and dense low ground cover are preferred; breeding is most likely if they are kept in a separate pen without competition from other species. Males may fight if too many kept in one enclosure, and may also pursue females excessively, sometimes even to the point of drowning them (Drowning). Feed as other dabbling ducks: pellets, grain, green food, bread.
• These ducks are necessarily easy to breed: American green-winged teal Anas crecca carolinensis may breed more readily than the European common teal Anas crecca crecca. They usually nest under low ground cover, not always very close to water, but may use ground-level nest boxes, laying in April to May, and will hatch and rear if undisturbed, although removing the eggs may be safer. A second clutch may be laid if the first eggs are removed. Hand-rearing is not difficult, or they may be bantam hatched and reared. Ducklings must be kept warm and dry initially, but are not difficult to rear once they have started feeding
• Hybridisation with Anas discors - Blue-winged teal and other Anas species has been reported.

(B29, B30, B31, B40, B94, B95, B96, B97, B108, B128, B129)

Aviornis UK Ringing Scheme recommended average ring size: G 7.0mm (D8).

• Accommodation of Casualty Waterfowl
• Rearing of Birds - Artificial Rearing - Waterfowl considerations
• Catching and Handling of Waterfowl
• Feeding of Casualty Waterfowl
• Release of Casualty Waterfowl
• See also: Oil Spill: Species Identification and Special Considerations

Measurement & Weight

Head

Legs

Plumage

Wing has primaries dark grey-brown, coverts grey, with greater coverts buff-tipped and secondaries iridescent green with white tips. Speculum iridescent green with buff front border and white rear border.

Female: head and neck pale buff-brown with darker crown and hindneck, eyeline and streaking. Breast, abdomen and ventral region buff-brown with darker spotting, plain buff on sides of tail, and central abdomen whitish. with darker streaks. Upperparts dark brown with paler feather edges and bases. Wing similar to male but browner.

Eclipse: Similar to female, but upperparts darker and eye-stripe less distinct.

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

Independent from about one month old.

Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

London: In the London Area, "common winter visitor and rare breeder." Several hundred in winter at sites such as Beddington sewage farm and the Thames Barrier; more than 100 on the Thames in the Barnes/Putney area in February 2000. In Inner London, one seen at Regents Park in September 2000. (J322.65.w1)

Northern populations migrate south to lower latitudes, reaching the equator (Kenya); temperate populations are sedentary.

Anas crecca crecca to Jan Mayen Island, Bear Island, Spitsbergen, Cape Verde Islands.
A c. carolinensis to Britain, Ireland, and rarely the Netherlands, Belgium and Morocco.

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Habitat

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Abundant (B1).

• This species is listed on Schedule 2 - Part I (Birds which may be killed or taken outside the close season, 1 February to 31 August except where indicated otherwise: Notes on the revised schedules state "NOTE: The close season for ducks and geese when below high water mark is 21 February to 31 August") of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)
• This species is listed on Schedule 3 - Part 3 (Birds which may be sold alive at all times if ringed and bred in captivity: Notes on the revised schedules state "Birds which may be sold dead from 1 September to 28 February (NB: It is illegal to offer for sale at any time of the year any wild goose, moorhen, gadwall or goldeneye, although they are legitimate quarry species outside the close season)) of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)

Captive Populations

Trade