Silver teal
Silver teal | |
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A male in Brazil | |
Conservation status | |
![]() Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Anseriformes |
Family: | Anatidae |
Genus: | Spatula |
Species: | S. versicolor |
Binomial name | |
Spatula versicolor (Vieillot, 1816) | |
Subspecies | |
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Synonyms | |
Anas versicolor Vieillot, 1816 |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Anas_versicolor_MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.32.4.jpg/220px-Anas_versicolor_MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.32.4.jpg)
The silver teal or versicolor teal (Spatula versicolor) is a species of dabbling duck in the genus Spatula. It breeds in South America.
Between April and June they prefer reed beds and will lay 6 to 10 creamy-pink eggs. The eggs will hatch after 25 to 27 days.[2] As with swans and geese, both parents will rear the ducklings.[3] A pair may bond long term. It lives on fresh water in small groups, and feeds primarily on vegetable matter such as seeds and aquatic plants.[4][citation needed][5]
The silver teal's range includes southern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands,[1] and the Falkland Islands.[6] The southernmost birds migrate to southern Brazil in the winter.
Silver teals are on the whole placid ducks but may be protective of eggs, young and females.[3]
Description
They have a black cap that extends below the eyes, and a bluish bill with a yellow tip. They also have a green speculum with a white border.[7] The female's plumage is slightly duller and has less yellow at the base of the beak.[2]
The Puna teal was previously regarded as a subspecies of this bird. Currently, there are two subspecies:
- S. versicolor versicolor northern silver teal located in Paraguay, southern Bolivia, and southern Brazil.[6]
- S. versicolor fretensis southern silver teal located in southern Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands.[6]
Footnotes
- ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Spatula versicolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680329A92855919. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680329A92855919.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b Oiseaux.net. "Sarcelle bariolée - Spatula versicolor - Silver Teal". www.oiseaux.net. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ a b McKinney, Frank; Brewer, Gwen (1989-01-01). "Parental Attendance and Brood Care in Four Argentine Dabbling Ducks". The Condor. 91 (1): 131–138. doi:10.2307/1368156. JSTOR 1368156.
- ^ "Silver Teals | Beauty of Birds". www.beautyofbirds.com. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
- ^ "Anas versicolor Vieillot 1816 - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
- ^ a b c Clements, J. (2007)
- ^ ArthurGrosset.com
References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikispecies-logo.svg/34px-Wikispecies-logo.svg.png)
- Clements, James, (2007) The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World, Cornell University Press, Ithaca
- "Dabbling Ducks". Connecticut Waterfowl Trust. April 2, 2003 (Retrieved October 31, 2006).
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