Eurasian teal

Scientific name: Anas crecca

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males sport a chestnut head with a distinctive green eye-patch and grey body; females are mottled brown overall. Both sexes show a bright green speculum on the wing and are notably small dabbling ducks.

Size and weight

Males 34–38 cm, 240–360 g; females 32–35 cm, 200–300 g.

Habitat

Eurasian teal inhabit shallow freshwater wetlands, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving rivers with emergent vegetation. They favour sites with ample aquatic plants and nearby cover, tolerating both lowland and moderate upland settings up to 1,500 m.

Distribution

Breeds across northern and central Eurasia from Iceland to eastern Siberia; winters throughout southern Europe, Mediterranean, northern Africa, and southern Asia. Prefers sheltered, productive wetlands with good food availability.

Diet

Feeds on seeds of wetland plants, aquatic invertebrates, and small molluscs, with emphasis on vegetable matter in autumn and winter.

Behaviour

Highly gregarious and active in early morning and late evening; often feed in tight flocks on shallow water or muddy margins. Prone to flushing suddenly when disturbed, rising almost vertically with rapid wingbeats.

Hunting tips

Look for droppings clustered on exposed mud and banks, and dabble-feeding trails in shallow margins. Approach using reed beds and low contours to mask skyline; teal flush readily so allow adequate distance. Best success at dawn or dusk near shallow food-rich margins, using the terrain to move within range before the flock departs.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 22 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.