Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Least Concern
Cape Teal (Anas capensis)
Taxonomy
French: Canard du Cap German: Fahlente Spanish: Cerceta de El Cabo
Taxonomy:
Anas capensis
J. F. Gmelin
, 1789,Cape of Good Hope, South Africa
.Distribution:
Patchy distribution in Chad, Niger and Nigeria (Chad Valley), Ethiopia S to Tanzania (Rift Valley) and S Africa (Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa).
Descriptive notes
44–48 cm; male 352–502 g, female 316–451 g. Typically shows traces of crest on nape; colours fairly variable and can seem greenish grey; generally... read more
Voice
Usually silent, but male gives soft nasal squeak and female a low quacking note, while both sexes... read more
Habitat
Strong preference for shallow lagoons of brackish or saline waters, including saltpans, lagoons,... read more
Food and feeding
Aquatic invertebrates (insects and their larvae, crustaceans) and small amphibians (tadpoles); also plant matter, principally seeds, leaves... read more
Breeding
Season variable, according to locality and extent of rainfall; Jun–Sept in Sudan, Jan, Mar–May, Sept–Oct in Ethiopia, Apr... read more
Movements
Mainly sedentary, though may wander widely during droughts and appear well outside normal range,... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Widespread and locally common to abundant, though patchily distributed and scarce over much of its range. Total population unknown,... read more
Sometimes placed in genus Nettion. Monotypic.