Common Teal

Anas crecca

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Brief #

Head and upper neck is chestnut, with a wide and iridescent dark green patch, overall grey plumage.

Synonyms #

  • Cerceta comĂșn (Spanish)
  • Cerceta (Galician)

Red List Status #

The Common Teal is unlikely to become extinct in the near future.
Find out more about IUCN's Red List program here

Description #

Head and upper neck is chestnut, with a wide and iridescent dark green patch. The breast is buff with small round brown spots. The center of the belly is white, and the rest of the body plumage is mostly white with thin and dense blackish streaks. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the hen; it is more uniform in colour, with a dark head and vestigial facial markings. The hen itself is yellowish-brown, somewhat darker on wings and back. It has a dark greyish-brown upper head, hindneck, eyestripe and feather pattern. The pattern is dense short streaks on the head and neck, and scaly spots on the rest of the body. Immatures are coloured much like hens, but have a stronger pattern.

Measurements #

Length: 34 - 43 cm
Wingspan: 58 - 64 cm
Weight: 53 - 59 g

Similar species #