Baikal Teal
NameBaikal Teal
Common NameBaikal Teal
Scientific NameSibirionetta formosa
FamilyAnatidae
Wingspan (cm)68
Length (cm)41
Weight (g)450
Plumage DetailsMale plumage is highly distinctive: a black crown, a broad iridescent green patch extending from the eye to the nape, bordered by a thin white line, and a large buffy-yellow patch on the face. The breast is pale buff with fine black spots, flanks are grey, and long, curved scapular feathers are black and buff. Females are duller brown with a dark crown, a white spot at the base of the bill, and a dark line through the eye.
Vocalization / CallMales have a distinctive, low, rattling 'crrr-crrr-crrr' call, often described as a 'clucking' sound. Females produce a typical duck-like quack, though softer than many other dabbling ducks.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatswetland, forest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds in eastern Siberia and winters in East Asia, primarily in South Korea, Japan, and China, often forming large flocks on freshwater lakes and rivers.
Identifying Featuresmale's distinctive green, black, and buff head pattern, long, curved scapular feathers on male, small size for a dabbling duck, white spot at bill base on female
Description
The Baikal Teal is a small dabbling duck renowned for the male's strikingly patterned head. Males display a complex green, black, and buff facial pattern, while females are more subtly marked with brown plumage. They typically feed by dabbling in shallow waters, consuming a variety of plant matter and invertebrates.
