Common Teal

The Common Teal is Britain's smallest dabbling duck, only slightly bigger than a pigeon. Male ducks in breeding season are easy to recognise by their chestnut-coloured head, wide green stripe across the eye edged with cream, and grey patterned body. A clear white stripe runs horizontally along the shoulders. Female ducks are mottled brown but are also small and fly quickly with twisting movements. Both males and females have a green patch on their wings edged with white, which can be seen when they are flying or resting. This duck is found widely in the UK during winter and breeds in small numbers. It prefers shallow freshwater wetlands, flooded meadows, and sheltered estuaries. The birds often feed in tight groups at dawn and dusk, tipping forward in shallow water to reach food or grazing on exposed mud. The male’s sharp whistle is commonly heard across wetlands in winter. The number of these ducks increases significantly from September to March as birds migrate from continental Europe.