Garganey
Garganey
Spatula querquedula
At a Glance
A long-distance migrant in the Old World, this small duck sometimes goes off course, and might turn up almost anywhere in North America. Most likely to be seen in spring, on marshy ponds of the sort favored by Blue-winged Teal. In the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, occurs as a rare migrant in spring and very rarely in fall.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Duck-like Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers
Range & Identification
Description
15" (38 cm). Male has long white stripe on brown head. Female very much like female Blue-winged Teal, but with stronger face pattern.
Size
About the size of a Robin, About the size of a Crow
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Wedge-shaped
Songs and Calls
Many of the calls are similar to Blue-winged Teal or Northern Shoveler. Males give an odd rattle-like call. Females emit a week croak similar to a Green-winged Teal.
Call Type
Croak/Quack, Rattle
Sign up for Audubon's newsletter to learn more about birds like the Garganey