One of the most numerous ducks in Australia, capable of forming enormous flocks exceeding a hundred thousand birds.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyDucks, Geese, and Waterfowl
SizeLarge
RarityCommon
HabitatThe grey teal nests near its favoured freshwater lakes and marshes, usually on the ground, but also in tree holes or rabbit burrows.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from October to April.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by JJSUN
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
588006approx records
7states
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
Plain grayish mottled duck with a rounded crown. Note plain face lacking the bold stripes of Pacific Black Duck. White wing panels are distinctive in flight compared to purple/green of Pacific Black Duck. Told from female Chestnut Teal by the much paler neck/throat.
Behavior
One of the most common ducks in many waterways, forming enormous flocks numbering in the 1000s.
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
Northern Territory
New South Wales
Western Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
South Australia
Australian Capital Territory
Commonly confused with
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWild birds are dark blackish overall with iridescent green and bronze, especially on the wings. Look for bold white wing patches in flight and red warts on the face (more extensive on males). Occurs extensively throughout Middle and South America, but typically scarce. Very restricted range in the U. S., only known from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Plumage varies from all white to all black, typically with more extensive red warts on the face than wild birds. There is a well-established feral population in Florida, with smaller domestic populations spread across the globe.→Freckled DuckStictonetta naevosaBeak is strongly curved like a ski-jump. Breeding males have a red base to their bill. Upper-wing is dark, while under-wing is paler gray. When perched, distinguish from Hardhead (which have a pale belly patch). More reliable inland, but can be common one year and absent the next from any given location.→Graylag GooseAnser anserLarge gray goose. Compare to other gray geese, which differ in details of bill pattern and color, head and neck pattern, and have dark underwings.→