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Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Least Concern

Envergure

29,4 cm

Poids

269,2 g

Famille

Anatidae

Ordre

Anseriformes

The Blue-billed Teal (Spatula hottentota) is a bird species in the family Anatidae (ducks, geese & swans), within the order Anseriformes (waterfowl). Recorded measurements include a wingspan of 29.4 cm and a weight of 269.2 g. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.

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À propos

A small dark teal with blue-grey bill and legs, brown-streaked plumage, and fine pale spotting on the flanks. The most widespread teal in sub-Saharan Africa. Found on freshwater lakes and marshes. Highly nomadic; follows seasonal rainfall. Swims low in the water like a pochard.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Envergure	29,4 cm	11.6 in
Poids	269,2 g	9.50 oz

Identification

Plumage

Small; males have pale blue-gray bill contrasting with brown-gray body. Head finely spotted; underparts barred brown and white. Males show powder-blue forewing in flight. Females browner. African marsh species.

Habitat & Range

Freshwater lakes, marshes, pans, and flooded grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and Sudan south to the Cape. Nomadic; follows seasonal rains. Common but easily overlooked among reed beds.

🌿 Wetland

Répartition géographique

Breeds in Arctic and subarctic Eurasia; winters at sea in the North Atlantic and from western Europe to eastern Africa.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; filter-feeds in shallow water; broadly omnivorous and seasonally variable.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Incubation: 25-27 days. Fledging: 60-65 days.

Taille de la couvée

5-12

Son

Chant

Male utters a soft, teal-like peep; female gives a muted quack. Pairs call quietly in dense papyrus; soft contact calls help birds maintain proximity in thick African marsh vegetation.

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordre	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Famille	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Spatula
Espèces	Spatula hottentota

Distribution

Blue-billed Teal has been recorded in 2 countries.

Présent Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇳🇴 Norway

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the Blue-billed Teal eat?

Feeds on seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; filter-feeds in shallow water; broadly omnivorous and seasonally variable.

Where does the Blue-billed Teal live?

Is the Blue-billed Teal endangered?

The Blue-billed Teal has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Blue-billed Teal nest?

Incubation: 25-27 days. Fledging: 60-65 days.

What does the Blue-billed Teal sound like?

Male utters a soft, teal-like peep; female gives a muted quack. Pairs call quietly in dense papyrus; soft contact calls help birds maintain proximity in thick African marsh vegetation.

How big is the Blue-billed Teal?

The Blue-billed Teal has a wingspan of 29.4 cm, weight of 269.2 g.

What order and family does the Blue-billed Teal belong to?

The Blue-billed Teal (Spatula hottentota) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.