Handsome male distinctive, with big white eyebrow on dark brown head, pale gray flanks; pale gray forewing striking in flight.
Not listed
Indigenous: Summer Teal
At a glance
FamilyDucks, Geese, and Waterfowl
SizeLarge
RarityRare
Habitatsparse woodland, open woodland, shrubland, grassland, and herbaceous graminoids sparse hummock grasses
Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from October to December.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Martin Fousert
Range map
Range map
8visible hotspots
66visible records
3states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Female very similar to female Green-winged Teal but head pattern more contrasting, with paler eyebrow, darker eyestripe, and unstreaked whitish throat. Breeds widely across Eurasia; winters in Africa and southern Asia. Migrants can be on more open water, even tidal mudflats.
Behavior
Associates readily with other ducks; feeds mainly by dabbling.
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
Northern Territory
Queensland
Commonly confused with
Wandering Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arcuataOften in smaller flocks around lakes, ponds, and dams. As the name suggests, note whistling call.→Radjah ShelduckRadjah radjahNote narrow dark breast-band.→Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosaNote purple/green metallic panel on wing and slightly domed head. Hybridizes with Mallard. Similar to female Mallard but note Pacific Black Duck’s darker coloration and distinctive striped cream head with gray bill, darker legs and feet. Also look for green speculum with black border in flight.→