Chestnut Teal

Being a superb sunny day in the middle of winter, it was a great opportunity to go back to the Laratinga Wetlands at Mt. Barker to see what birds were on offer today. We were not alone and there were many locals out walking dogs, jogging or riding bikes, in the glorious sunshine.

Birds in trees were rare but there were plenty in the water. I saw a pair of Chestnut Teal which is a small dabbling duck with a high forehead and rounded head.

Males are distinctive, having a chestnut brown neck, breast and flanks, dark brown upper body and wings, and a black undertail with contrasting white patch. In both sexes the eye is a deep red, the bill is blue-grey and the legs and feet are green-grey.

More teal

The Chestnut Teal is found in south-western and south-eastern Australia. and loves wetlands and estuaries in coastal regions, and is one of the few ducks able to tolerate high salinity waters, although it still needs fresh water for drinking.

It will also use open freshwater lakes, reservoirs and sewage ponds during dry seasons. The Chestnut Teal eats seeds and insects, along with some vegetation. It also dabbles for food while swimming in the water, up-ends to bottom feed or takes food from the surface.

Chestnut Teals form pairs that stay together outside the breeding season. This was not yet the breeding season when this male will have a distinctive glossy green head. Hope to catch this green head plumage later in the season.