Eurasian Teal

Anas crecca

The Eurasian Teal (Common Teal, Green-winged Teal) is a small duck (37 cm), the male having a chestnut brown head interrupted by a metallic green eye patch, a gray back and a black undertail with buffy side patches.  The sides are gray finely barred with black, and are bordered by a horizontal white line formed by a white stripe on the scapulars.  The breast is light buff with black spots, the bill and legs are gray and the iris is brown. The female is mottled brown, with a pale belly.  The Eurasian Teal is a fast-flying duck which shows a conspicuous green speculum in flight, on both sexes.

The Eurasian Teal frequents marshes, estuaries and lakes, as well as brackish and coastal waterways in winter.  Its food consists of seeds of aquatic plants, grasses, sedges and grain during the winter, and includes many aquatic invertebrates in spring and summer.  It feeds by dabbling, head-dipping, up-ending or diving in shallow water, and also filters mud.

In Taiwan the Eurasian Teal is a very common winter resident, often seen in flocks.

References:  Handbook of Birds of the World Vol. 1; A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Mackinnon and Phillipps); 100 Common Birds of Taiwan (Wild Bird Society of Taipei)