Cape Teal

Alternative name: Cape Wigeon

Photo © by Robert Weinand
Etosha National Park, Namibia, 17 December 2006

Anas capensis

Identification

Note yellow eye.
Photo © by Wim de Groot
Big Momela Lake, Arusha National Park, Tanzania, 25 July 2007

Length 44-46 cm (17¾")

Adult

• Speckled head
• Pink bill
• Pale and mainly grey plumage
• Browner back
• In flight shows dark greenish speculum surrounded by white
• Sexes are similar although females average smaller chest spots and paler bill

Immature

Young birds lack the pink bill

Variations

Eye color variable. Usually ruby-red in the South; yellow in the North.

Similar Species

Red-billed Duck is darker with a distinct dark cap.

Distribution

Africa
Northern Africa: Libya and Egypt
Western Africa: Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, DRC and Angola
Eastern Africa: Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho

Taxonomy

Sometimes placed in genus Nettion^[4] This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Open wetland areas of fresh or saline water. A species covered under AEWA^[3].

Behaviour

A dabbling duck, they feed by dipping at the surface of the water.

Diet

Aquatic invertebrates (insects and their larvae, crustaceans) and small amphibians (tadpoles); also plant matter, principally seeds and leaves of Potamogeton pectinatus (Sago pondweed)

Breeding

The ground nest is placed under vegetation near water.

Vocalisation

Mostly silent.
Breeding male: a clear whistle Female: a quiet "quack".

Movements

Mainly sedentary, though may wander widely during droughts and appear well outside normal range.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Avibase
3. African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement
4. Carboneras, C. & Kirwan, G.M. (2018). Cape Teal (Anas capensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52870 on 5 July 2018).
5. Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533
6. Sinclair, I., Hockey, P.A.R., and Arlott, N. (2005). The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town. ISBN 978-1775840992

1. Wikipedia

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Cape Teal. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cape_Teal

External Links

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