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To the Beauty of Birds

The Red-billed Teal (Anas erythrorhyncha) is a dabbling duck which is an abundant resident breeder in southern and eastern Africa typically south of 10° S. This duck is not migratory, but will fly great distances to find suitable waters. It is highly gregarious outside the breeding season and forms large flocks.

The red-billed teal is 17–19 in long and has a blackish cap and nape, contrasting white face and bright red bill. The body plumage is a dull dark brown scalloped with white. Flight reveals that the secondary flight feathers are buff with a black stripe across them. The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller than adults.

This is a quiet species, but the displaying male has a whzzt call, whereas the female has a soft Mallard-like quack.

The red-billed teal is a bird of freshwater habitats in fairly open country and is an omnivore. It feeds by dabbling for plant food, or foraging on land mainly in the evening or at night. It nests on the ground in dense vegetation near water.

These were photographed on the Serengiti, Tanzania.

Red-billed Teal

Teal Red-billed 0440

Teal Red-billed 0441

Teal Red-billed 8986

Teal Red-billed 9041

Teal Red-billed and Godwit Black-tailed 9042

Teal Red-billed 0427