Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Least Concern
Yellow-billed Teal (Anas flavirostris)
Taxonomy
French: Sarcelle tachetée German: Südandenente Spanish: Cerceta barcina
Other common names:
Speckled Teal (when lumped with A. andium)
Taxonomy:
Anas flavirostris
Vieillot
, 1816,Buenos Aires, Argentina
.
Subspecies and Distribution
A. f. oxyptera
Meyen, 1834 – Sharp-winged Teal – Andes from C Peru (Cajamarca) S to NW Argentina (Catamarca).
A. f. flavirostris
Vieillot, 1816 – Speckled Teal – N Argentina, Uruguay and SE Brazil S to Tierra del Fuego; Falkland Is, South Georgia.
Descriptive notes
35–45 cm; 388–830 g. Head sometimes paler than in bird depicted. Both races resemble A. georgica, but always smaller, shorter-necked and darker-headed.... read more
Voice
Male gives loud, single-syllabled “krick” in display, alarm and when separated when female, as well... read more
Habitat
Variety of freshwater lakes, rivers and marshes, generally at high altitude in mountainous country... read more
Food and feeding
Small aquatic invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, amphipods) and seeds, fruits and vegetative parts of aquatic plants (seaweed, algae). In... read more
Breeding
Season variable according to locality; season generally Oct–Mar in race oxyptera (with perhaps additional clutches in Jun... read more
Movements
Southernmost breeding birds winter in more temperate regions, as far N as Uruguay, Paraguay and SE... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Generally common, even locally abundant, with overall population of nominate race in mainland South America estimated at > 1,000,... read more
Sometimes placed in genus Nettion. Usually united with A. andium in one species, but separation accepted here (see that species). Form oxyptera differs from nominate flavirostris in its lightly vs heavily mottled breast, mantle and back and greyish-cream vs dingy grey-brown underparts (2), and its slightly larger size apparently best expressed by longer wing (1 or 2). Two subspecies recognized.