Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Least Concern
Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)
Taxonomy
French: Sarcelle rousse German: Kastanienente Spanish: Cerceta castaña
Other common names:
Chestnut-breasted Teal
Taxonomy:
Mareca castanea
Eyton
, 1838,New South Wales, Australia
.Distribution:
SW, N, E & SE Australia, and Tasmania.
Descriptive notes
35–46 cm; male 562–816 g, female 505–766 g. Only likely to be confused with A. gibberifrons and A. rhynchotis, but latter has obviously... read more
Voice
Generally noisy in flocks, calling almost constantly at low intensity, especially during display... read more
Habitat
Favours estuaries, coastal lagoons and marshes. Also along coast (e.g. in saltmarshes and mangrove... read more
Food and feeding
Feeds by dabbling, upending and mud filtering in very shallow waters, and presumably takes similar kinds of food (perhaps with greater... read more
Breeding
Starts Jun/Nov, mainly about Aug, typically following sustained rainfall and associated flooding, especially if several months have elapsed... read more
Movements
Mostly sedentary, with small-scale dispersion inland and following coast on both sides of Australia... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Outnumbered c. 8:1 by A. gracilis, with an overall population most recently estimated at > 45,000 birds, perhaps even as... read more
Sometimes placed in genus Nettion. Thought to be close to A. chlorotis, A. aucklandica and A. nesiotis. Hybridization with A. gracilis recorded. Monotypic.