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Teals - Dabbling Ducks - Hebridean Birds - Western Isles Birds - Birdlife and Bird Sightings in the Hebrides
 Western Isles Birds - Teals - the most liked small diminutive ducks - loved for their plumage - seen all over Scotland and indeed Britain.


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Email: chris@gcwweb.com

Teal - Western Isles Bird Sightings

Teal - Western Isles bird sightings
Male Teal - Bernera- Isle of Lewis
Western Isles - April 2010
(Click Image for Larger Pictures)
Female Teal - Western isles Bird Sightings
  
Teal - Male Bird - Western Isles Bird Sightings
  
Teals - Dabbling Ducks - Outer Hebrides
Female Teal
Ref:TEA1000
  
Male Teal
Ref:TEA1002
Pair of Teals
Ref:TEA1003

Those female was swimming alongside its mate - Bernera - Western Isles.

This is the beautiful male teal - very pretty really for a duck - Isle of Lewis

  

The teals - our smallest dabbling ducks are really very pretty - Lewis
         
         
Bird Overview - Teal
Family
 Swans, Ducks and Geese
Latin name
Anas crecca

Population		 Common Similar Species Mallard
Garganey
Description
The male teal has a chestnut and green head. Green and black speculum and white wing bar in flight . The male's body feathers are grey, with a long white stripe above the wing, and a yellow rear. He has a spotted chest and the tail is black - edged with the yellow with the distinctive yellow patch at the rear.

The female bird is mottled brown with a brown spotted underside. Both sexes have the bright green wing patch and white wing bars and dark grey bills.

Size
36cm (14")
Habitat

These dabbling ducks like marshes, lochs and shorelines and shallow water.
Food
Seeds and small invertebrates. Teal feed in several different ways - on water they skim the surface or pick up tiny bits of plant and animal matter - they also paddle slowly through shallow water or mud, filtering items as they go along. These birds also eat small crustaceans such as shrimp, and will eat most little creatures they find in the mud
Voice
These birds make a whistling sound - the female ducks actually do "quack"
Breeding
The ducks nest in a down lined hollow - usually near the water. There are 8 - 11 eggs and there is one brood April to June.
Misc. Info
These birds a a Resident Breeder in the Western Isles - also Passage/Winter Visitors . The teal is the smallest dabbling duck in Scotland and indeed Britain. Teals fly in dense flocks - flying quickly and low.
 
Feedback - All comments welcome Chris@GcwWeb.com