Anseriformes / Anatidae / Spatula
Garganey
Spatula querquedula · 白眉鸭
Introduction
A small dabbling duck in the genus Spatula. It breeds across Europe and the Palearctic in grassland adjacent to shallow marshes and steppe lakes. Strictly migratory, the entire population moves to Africa, India, Bangladesh, and Australasia for the Northern hemisphere winter, where large flocks occur. Rises easily from water with fast, twisting flight. IUCN status is Least Concern.
Description
Adult male has a brown head and breast with a broad white crescent over the eye. The rest of the plumage is grey, with loose grey scapular feathers. The crown is dark and the face is reddish-brown. It has a grey bill and legs. In flight, it shows a pale blue speculum with a white border. When swimming, prominent white edges on tertials are visible. Female is brown with a pale eyebrow, dark eye line, and pale lore spot bordered by a second dark line. Size: 41 cm. Wingspan: 58–69 cm. Weight: 300–440 g.
Identification
Male is unmistakable due to the broad white crescent over the eye. Distinguished from similar Eurasian teal by rising easily with fast, twisting flight. Female requires care to separate from common teal; indicators include stronger face markings and more frequent head-shaking when dabbling. Confusion with female blue-winged teal is possible, but that species has yellow legs and different head and bill shape.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds in much of Europe and across the Palearctic. Rare breeding bird in the British Isles, mostly in quiet marshes in Norfolk and Suffolk. In Ireland, breeds in County Wexford and Lough Beg in County Londonderry. Strictly migratory, wintering in Africa, India (particularly Santragachi), Bangladesh (natural reservoirs of Sylhet district), and Australasia.
Behavior & Ecology
Feeds mainly by skimming rather than upending. Male produces a distinctive crackling mating call. Female is relatively silent but can produce a feeble quack.
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Spatula
Distribution
breeds Palearctic (except north); winters to central Africa through Indonesia
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
