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page.Teal
Anas crecca
The teal, weighing only about 300 grams, is the smallest of the European ducks. Its range includes all of Europe, the only places where it does not breed being Spain, Portugal, Italy and the Balkans, though in the latter it occurs in plenty during the winter months. Western European populations are resident. Some birds migrate to Africa - as far as the Sudan. The teal returns to its breeding grounds in March or early April, seeking out inland stretches of water bordered with thick vegetation and with meadows nearby. Pairs have been previously forrned in the winter quarters during February and March. The nest is built by the female in tall grass, clumps of grass or beneath a thick willow or alder bush, and may be some distance from water. It is lined with dry vegetation such as stalks and leaves, and edged with down. Between mid-April and the beginning of June, the female begins incubating the eight to ten eggs, sitting on them alone for 22 to 25 days. During this time the male swims about nearby. The ducklings are small but very agile, able to dive and gather food for themselves. They begin to fly at one month. A teal's diet consists of vegetable matter and animal food, the latter being the mainstay in spring and summer; in autumn it feeds on seeds and plant parts. The young feed additionally on small invertebrates. When their young have fledged, teal form large flocks.
Click on any of the other bird links, these are Geese Barnacle Goose : Brent Goose : Canada Goose : Greylag Goose
Or on the Ducks: Gadwall : Goldeneye : Goosander : Mallard : Pintail : Pochard : Red Breasted Merganser
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And the rest, in no real order of importance: Common Sandpiper : Coot. : Corncrake : Curlew. : Dunlin : Greenshank : Lapwing : Moorhen : Oystercatcher : Redshank : Ringed Plover : Snipe : Spotted Crake : Stone Curlew : Turnstone : Whimbrel : Woodcock.
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