Andean Teal Anas andium Scientific name definitions

The Andean Teal is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of the much more widespread Yellow-billed Teal (Anas flavirostris), which occurs over much of the southern third of South America. In contrast, the Andean Teal is confined to the Andes of southwest Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru, where it is largely confined to elevations above 3500. Throughout its range, the Andean Teal appears to be sparsely distributed, generally rather uncommon, and probably declining. Compared to the much more numerous Yellow-billed Teal, the Andean Teal has a blue-gray or dark gray bill, and has more uniformly dark plumage.

35–45 cm; 484 g (male andium) (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 ). Formerly considered conspecific with <em>A. flavirostris</em> (see Taxonomy comments); like latter has no eclipse plumage. Male generally very dark  , has head  and neck pale grey, heavily spotted or vermiculated black, upperparts black and brownish, belly and sides  grey to pale brown, spotted darker on breast, uppertail-coverts and tail grey-brown, wings grey-brown on coverts, becoming darker on remiges, speculum  velvet black and metallic green, bordered in front by rufescent band and buff or white on trailing edge; bill  generally all dark, legs and feet grey, and eyes brown. Female  slightly smaller and duller, with scallops (rather than spots) on breast and sides, and bill paler (at least in nominate) with brown culmen stripe (2 Wilson, R.E., Goldfeder, S. and McCracken, K.G. (2004). Bill sexual dichromatism of Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica) and Speckled Teal (A. flavirostris). Ornitología Neotropical. 15(4): 543–545. Close ). Juvenile with spotted underparts, while upperparts appear obscurely mottled. Nominate <em>andium</em> has longer and bluer bill , narrow pale fringes above, coarsely spotted breast and dark markings reach further back along flanks; race <em>altipetens</em> is also dark , with pale fringes above and coarse spotting below, and has blue-grey to dark grey bill ; see also Taxonomy comments.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Variety of freshwater lakes , rivers and marshes, at high altitude  in mountainous country in bogs with ponds and creeks. Race andium is rarely found below 3500 m (except in N Peru, where mainly recorded at c. 3200 m) (5 More, A., Viñas, P., Eckhardt R., K. and Amanzo, J. (2006). First records of Andean Teal Anas andium for Peru. Cotinga. 25: 88–89. Close ) and occurs up to snowline, while altipetens is mainly recorded at 3200–4300 m (seasonally down to 2600 m).

Mainly sedentary, though can be forced to descend to lower altitudes by adverse winter weather, with a record of andium below 200 m at a reservoir in Lambayeque, N Peru (6 Williams, R.S.R., Williams, A.D. and Plenge, H. (2013). First record of Andean Teal Anas andium in Lambayeque, Peru. Cotinga. 35: 116. Close ).

No known differences from A. flavirostris.

No known differences from A. flavirostris.

Season variable according to locality; starts Feb in Colombia, but season generally Oct–Mar in race andium and Aug–Dec in altipetens (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 ). Monogamous with long-term pair-bonds (lasting up to six years). Sometimes double-brooded in N of range. In single pairs or loose groups; nest typically well hidden, often among dense vegetation or in trees, near water. Clutch 5–13 eggs, size 57·3 mm × 39·6 mm (andium) (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 c. 24–35 days by female alone (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 dark brown down above, whiter below with broad dark band on cheeks (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 ); fledging 6–7 weeks, with young generally tended by both adults (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 ). Potential predators of ducklings in S of range include Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus), Aplomado Falcons (Falco femoralis) and Peregrine Falcons (F. peregrinus) (7 Port, J.L. and McKinney, F. (2001). Behavioral adaptations for breeding in arboreal-nesting Speckled Teal. Wilson Bull.. 113(2): 177–188. Close ). Sexual maturity achieved at one year old (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 ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Both races considered to be less numerous than those of A. flavirostris (< 20,000 birds each) (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 ) due to more restricted range, but in good state because of inaccessibility of habitat, which remains mostly unchanged, although altipetens is considered Vulnerable and <em>andium</em> Near Threatened by Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group (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 ); frequently recorded in temperate Ecuador, very frequently in the paramo zone.