Campbell Islands Teal Anas nesiotis Scientific name definitions

36–48 cm; male 290–500 g, female 280–365 g) (1 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Small, short-winged  and flightless, dark brown duck with broadly similar plumage to that of A. chlorotis and A. aucklandica (for differences see Taxonomy comments). Breeding male  has glossy green head  , very narrow white collar, and pale flank patch. Eclipse male  and female  are basically brown, with mottled dark brown breast and prominent white eye-patch. Bare parts: bill black , legs and feet dark grey, and eye black (1 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Smaller than A. chlorotis, in addition to being flightless, with reduced sexual dimorphism compared to latter; often adopts very upright posture with drooping tail. Juvenile resembles female, although generally darker prior to first moult and body and breast feathers have broad buff fringes, affording strongly mottled appearance (1 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Dent I (Campbell I group); reintroduced and established on Campbell I, where had become extinct.

Inhabits dense, chest-high tussock (there are no pools or running water on Dent  ), with records over most of the island, but is probably more common below 100 m, in damp areas. Reintroduced birds on Campbell I have dispersed into open upland areas, Dracophyllum forest, upstream habitats and coastal beaches  .

Sedentary and flightless.

In captivity feeds on amphipods, weevils, earthworms, seaweed and other insects; birds released onto Codfish I have been observed feeding on invertebrates in piles of rotting seaweed on shores and foraging offshore at night. Forages by probing, dabbling  , upending and diving near water’s edge or, at low tide, on patches of kelp along shoreline. Often nocturnal, especially where skuas (Catharacta) present.

Calls are apparently identical to those of A. chlorotis and A. aucklandica (1 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Season unknown (1 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Usually single-brooded, but in captivity females sometimes lay two clutches. Nest  undescribed. Mean clutch size for nesiotis (in captivity) 3·8 eggs  , laid at three-day intervals (1 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); size 57·5–66·8 mm × 40·4–44·9 mm (1 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); incubation by female alone (although male remains close by) (1 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) 30–34 days (1 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); chicks  have brown down above, buffish below, with streaked face; young achieve adult weight and wing length at age 63 days (1 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). No further information.

ENDANGERED. For many decades apparently confined to Dent, an offshore islet of W Campbell I, although not discovered on Dent until 1975; first collected in 1886 from sea near Campbell, 3 km from Dent. In 1990 survey of Dent 60–100 individuals estimated, and in 1998 probably no more than 25 breeding pairs present. In 1999 and 2000, with aim of creating a temporary population, 24 captive-bred birds were released on Codfish I (off NW Stewart I), and eggs laid in first year. After successful eradication of brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) on Campbell in 2001, birds taken from Codfish  for release in 2004, 2005 and 2006  ; majority of 2004 releases thought to have survived first year on Campbell, where breeding confirmed in 2006 (ducklings seen in Jan, and duckling, three juveniles and two nests with eggs in Feb). Survey in Dec 2008 confirmed that nesiotis had become established on Campbell I, and total population (captive and wild) in excess of 200 individuals; this survey, together with observations of breeding and dispersal, suggests population that includes 100–200 mature adults. CITES I.