Green-Winged Teal (Anas crecca) lives in wetlands and marshes across Palearctic (Europe & Asia) with wintering in Africa & Asia. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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At just 34-43 cm long and weighing only 340-360 g, the Eurasian teal is one of the tiniest dabbling ducks alive. Its wings span only 53-59 cm, yet it can travel each winter, joining massive flocks that number up to 750,000 birds around the Mediterranean and Black Sea. This tiny body-size combined with huge migratory aggregations.
During winter the teal's diet flips from protein-rich invertebrates to almost pure grain, up to 95 % of its intake can be rice, barley or corn in some populations. In the breeding season it devours crustaceans, insects, molluscs and worms, while in the colder months it grazes on seeds of aquatic plants and grasses.
The teal's call is louder than most ducks: males emit a high-pitched "cryc" whistle, while females produce a rapid series of 5-15 quacks at two per second when startled. These vocal alarms occur as large flocks that twist and turn like waders in flight, helping individuals locate each other and warn of predators. Such noisy communication underscores the species' reliance on group cohesion for safety during migration and wintering.
Despite a slow decline of only 1-2 % per year in the 1990s, the Eurasian teal remains classified as Least Concern, with over 287,000 birds counted wintering in Iran alone in 1990-91. Its range stretches from the Arctic tundra to tropical Africa, and it appears year-round on islands like Iceland and the Vestmannaeyjar. This broad distribution and modest population drop illustrate a species that, while vulnerable to wetland loss, currently persists under international protection by the AEWA treaty.
A single hatchling emerges weighing a mere 15 g, yet it can grow to an adult weighing over 300 g. The clutch usually contains 8-11 eggs, each incubated for 21-23 days, and the ducklings stay with their mother for 25-30 days before fledging.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
RangePalearctic (Europe & Asia) with wintering in Africa & Asia
HabitatWetlands and marshes
DietAquatic plants insects
About the Green-Winged Teal
As the sun rises over the marshy wetlands, the Green-Winged Teal emerges, its iridescent feathers glimmering like polished jade as it glides effortlessly across the water, leaving behind a trail of gentle ripples. With a swift, decisive stroke of its wings, it takes to the skies, its slender form slicing through the air with a fluidity that belies its remarkable agility, as it embarks on its migratory journey to distant lands. In its wake, the soft quacks of its companions echo through the misty dawn, a symphony of sound that underscores the enduring presence of this resilient and enchanting duck.
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