Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Least Concern
Silver Teal (Spatula versicolor)
Taxonomy
French: Sarcelle bariolée German: Silberente Spanish: Cerceta capuchina
Other common names:
Versicolor Teal
Taxonomy:
Anas versicolor
Vieillot
, 1816,Paraguay
.
Subspecies and Distribution
S. v. versicolor
(Vieillot, 1816) – S Bolivia to S Brazil, and S to C Argentina.
S. v. fretensis
(P. P. King, 1831) – C Chile and C Argentina S to Tierra del Fuego, also Falkland Is; those breeding in far S winter as far N as S Brazil.
Descriptive notes
38–43 cm; male 409–473 g, female 373–384 g. Easily identified in range by striking head and bill patterns. Male has blackish-brown cap, separated from pale... read more
Voice
Vocalizations of male include a quiet “buzz” which accompanies “Burp-whistle” that sounds like... read more
Habitat
Shallow freshwater lakes, swamps and pools bordered with abundant floating or emergent vegetation... read more
Food and feeding
Seeds and vegetative parts of aquatic plants, grasses and sedges; also aquatic invertebrates (insects and larvae, molluscs, crustaceans).... read more
Breeding
Season variable: starts mainly Oct/Nov in S; Sept–Mar in Peru. Male to some extent polygamous, pursuing additional females and... read more
Movements
Partially migratory; southernmost breeding birds move northwards to winter as far N as SE Brazil,... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly widespread and locally abundant, with estimated populations of 25,000–100,000 for versicolor and fretensis... read more
Normally placed in Anas; closest to S. hottentota and S. puna#R, and all three sometimes placed together in genus Punanetta. Taxon puna considered a full species here (which see). Two subspecies recognized.