HUNTING HORIZONS - Worldwide Hunting Seasons Database

The Common Teal or Eurasian Teal [Anas crecca] is common and widespread breeding across northern Eurasia and mostly winters well south of its breeding range. In the milder European climate the summer and winter ranges overlap. In winter, there are high densities around the Mediterranean, in Japan and Taiwan and in South Asia. Other important wintering locations include the Middle East, South Korea, continental East and Southeast Asia.
This dabbling duck is highly gregarious outside the breeding season and will form large flocks.

LENGTH: 34-43 cm
WEIGHT: 340-360 g
WINGSPAN: 53-59 cm

MALE: Feet and body dark grey, head and upper neck dark chestnut, with wide iridescent dark green teardrop patch from eye to upper hind neck bordered with thin yellowish white lines, a single line of that colour extends to base of the bill. The breast is buff with small round brown spots, centre of the belly white, rest of the body plumage mostly white. The outer scapular feathers are white, with a black border forming white side stripe when resting. The under wing is whitish, with dense dark spotting to inner coverts and a dark leading edge; tail black with bright yellowish buff triangular patch in the centre of the coverts.
In non breeding plumage like female with more uniform colour, dark head and vestigial facial markings and best recognized by small size, call, and speculum.

FEMALE: Yellowish brown, darker on wings and back; dark greyish brown upper head, hind neck, eye stripe and feather pattern; dense short streaks on the head and neck, scaly spots on the rest of the body, mid belly is whitish with some dark streaking, wings have brown upper wing coverts. The bill is pinkish or yellowish at base, becoming dark grey towards the tip, feet are greyish brown.

JUVENILE: Juveniles coloured much like females but with stronger pattern, the feet are greyish-brown. The bill is pinkish or yellowish at the base becoming dark grey towards the tip.

HABITAT: Inhabits sheltered freshwater wetlands, bogs, small lakes and ponds with extensive reed beds. In winter, is often seen in brackish waters, inlets and lagoons along the seashore.

FEEDING: In the breeding season it eats mainly crustaceans, insects and their larvae, molluscs and worms. In winter, it feeds on seeds of aquatic plants and grasses.

CALL: A noisy species; the male whistles cryc or creelycc, not loud but very clear and far-carrying, the female has a feeble keh or neeh quack.

FLIGHT: Teal are fast, agile and rapid flyers, flocks often seen twisting like waders. They are the only duck known to scratch while in flight.