Grey Teal (anas gracilis)
Tete

Size: 43 cm, 525/425 gm (male/female)

Description: Light grey/brown duck with paler cheeks and front of neck. Adults have red eyes and the sexes are alike. Speculum is black with a green sheen. Juveniles are paler and have brown eyes.

Habitat: Low-lying lakes, lagoons and estuaries. Feeds by either dabbling in shallow water or dredging mud and filtering out the food.

Status: Protected native, over 50,000 birds in 1990's.

Breeding: June - February. 5-9 cream coloured eggs. Female incubates while male stands guard. Nest is a bowl of grass lined with down.

Distinguishing Features: Red eyes, lightly coloured cheeks and front of neck.

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