Anas querquedula - Garganey
Feather characters. Barbules are rather short (0.83-0.87 mm) and internodes contain very lightly stippled pigment along the entire length of barbules. Triangular nodes are located on distal end, covering less than 30% of the total barbule length. On proximal end, nodal structures are visible but undeveloped and hardly swollen, and thus too small to qualify as nodes (16 per mm). An abrupt increase in size of nodes is seen distally along the barbules. In a very few cases triangular nodes may not be present. Villi are absent and internodes are occasionally kinked. Minute prongs may be present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Occasionally minute prongs may be found proximal to triangular nodes.
Field characters. Size 37-41 cm. Weight 326 g (Dunning, 1993). Only a little larger than Teal but with more slender neck, flatter crown, and more straight bill. Male in flight shows pale blue forewing and sharp demarcation of brown breast from vermiculated greyish flanks and white belly. Adult male with broad white stripe extending from eye to nape; long, curved, scapulars striped grey, dark green, black, and white; speculum glossy dark green, bordered with white in front and behind. Female resembles female Teal but paler, with whiter throat, more distinct dark eye stripe, light supercilium, and pale spot at bill base; in flight with greyish forewing and indistinct greenish-brown speculum. Bill and legs grey. Male in eclipse like female except for blue forewing and whiter throat and belly. Juveniles also like females, but wing of juvenile male duller than adult.
Voice. Male has a characteristic low, crackling call and female a short 'quack'.
Distribution. Not common and considerable fluctuations in local breeding areas. Winters in Africa, south of the Sahara. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. In all seasons, prefers shallow standing fresh waters, reedy lakes, swampy pools, floodlands, and other shallow waters with rich floating and emergent vegetation.
Food. Feeds on animal (waterbugs, caddisflies, midges, molluscs, crustaceans, annelids and tadpoles) and plant material (buds, leaves, roots, tubers, and seeds of aquatic plants) mainly while swimming with head under water.