Chestnut Teal

Overview

The chestnut teal (Anas castanea) is a dabbling duck found in Australia. It is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

Identification

• Males have a distinctive green-coloured head and mottled brown body, appearing darker and slightly bigger than the grey teal.
• Females have a brown head and mottled brown body, and are almost identical in appearance to the female grey teal.
• The female produces a loud, penetrating "laughing" quack that is repeated rapidly nine times or more.

Habitat

The species is commonly distributed in south-eastern and south-western Australia, with Tasmania and southern Victoria serving as strongholds. It prefers coastal estuaries and wetlands and is indifferent to salinity. Vagrants may occur in New Guinea, Lord Howe Island, and New Zealand.

Diet

The chestnut teal is an omnivore.

Did you know?

The young hatch and are ready to swim and walk within a day.