The silver teal or versicolor teal (Spatula versicolor) is a species of dabbling duck in the genus Spatula. It breeds in South America.

Silver teal
A male in Brazil
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Spatula
Species:
S. versicolor
Binomial name
Spatula versicolor
(Vieillot, 1816)
Subspecies
Synonyms

Anas versicolor Vieillot, 1816

Anas versicolor - MHNT

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.[2] As with swans and geese, both parents will rear the ducklings.[3] 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.[4][citation needed][5]

The silver teal's range includes southern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands,[1] 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.[3]

Description

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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.[2]

The Puna teal was previously regarded as a subspecies of this bird. Currently, there are two subspecies:

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Spatula versicolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680329A92855919. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680329A92855919.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Oiseaux.net. "Sarcelle bariolée - Spatula versicolor - Silver Teal". www.oiseaux.net. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  3. ^ a b McKinney, Frank; Brewer, Gwen (1989-01-01). "Parental Attendance and Brood Care in Four Argentine Dabbling Ducks". The Condor. 91 (1): 131–138. doi:10.2307/1368156. JSTOR 1368156.
  4. ^ "Silver Teals | Beauty of Birds". www.beautyofbirds.com. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
  5. ^ "Anas versicolor Vieillot 1816 - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  6. ^ a b c Clements, J. (2007)
  7. ^ ArthurGrosset.com

References

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