Brown Teal (Anas chlorotis)
Pateke

Size: 48 cm, 600/500gm (male/female)

Description: Delicate "rubber ducky" shaped duck, dark brown with brown legs. Eyes also brown but with a thin white ring around them. One of three subspecies of brown teal and the one common on mainland New Zealand.

Habitat: Tidal streams, lagoons, estuaries and wet pasture. Flock at high tide, on receding and low tide.

Status: Rare protected, threatened endemic. Approx 1500 birds. Strongholds: Great Barrier Is. and Northland.

Breeding: June - November. Nest is a grass bowl under thick vegetation. 3-8 eggs incubated by the female while the male defends the territory.

Where and how to photograph: Whangapoua estuary on Great Barrier Island. Brown Teal are very approachable.

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