Silver teal
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The silver teal or versicolor teal (Spatula versicolor) is a species of dabbling duck in the genus Spatula. It breeds in South America.
Between April and June they prefer reed beds and will lay 6 to 10 creamy-pink eggs. The eggs will hatch after 25 to 27 days.[1] As with swans and geese, both parents will rear the ducklings.[2] A pair may bond long term. It lives on fresh water in small groups, and feeds primarily on vegetable matter such as seeds and aquatic plants.[3]Script error: No such module "Unsubst".[4]
The silver teal's range includes southern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands,[5] and the Falkland Islands.[6] The southernmost birds migrate to southern Brazil in the winter.
Silver teals are on the whole placid ducks but may be protective of eggs, young and females.[2]
Description
They have a black cap that extends below the eyes, and a bluish bill with a yellow tip. They also have a green speculum with a white border.[7] The female's plumage is slightly duller and has less yellow at the base of the beak.[1]
The Puna teal was previously regarded as a subspecies of this bird. Currently, there are two subspecies:
- S. versicolor versicolor northern silver teal located in Paraguay, southern Bolivia, and southern Brazil.[6]
- S. versicolor fretensis southern silver teal located in southern Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands.[6]
References
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- ↑ a b c Clements, J. (2007)
- ↑ ArthurGrosset.com
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Sources
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- Clements, James, (2007) The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World, Cornell University Press, Ithaca
- "Dabbling Ducks". Connecticut Waterfowl Trust. April 2, 2003 (Retrieved October 31, 2006).