Garganey
NameGarganey
Common NameGarganey
Scientific NameSpatula querquedula
FamilyAnatidae
Wingspan (cm)61.5
Length (cm)39
Weight (g)450
Plumage DetailsThe breeding male has a dark brown head with a prominent broad white supercilium extending from the eye to the nape. Its body is grey with fine vermiculations, grey flanks, and a speckled brown rear. Females are mottled brown with a darker crown and eye-stripe, resembling a small female Teal.
Vocalization / CallThe male's call is a distinctive dry, rattling or creaking sound, often described as 'kerr-kerr' or 'crrr-crrr'. Females produce a softer, less emphatic quack.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatswetland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across temperate Eurasia, from Western Europe to Eastern Asia, and winters primarily in Africa and South Asia.
Identifying FeaturesWhite supercilium (male), Grey flanks (male), Small size, Dabbling duck behavior
Description
The Garganey is a small dabbling duck, with the breeding male easily identified by its striking white supercilium. These migratory birds prefer shallow freshwater habitats, where they feed by dabbling for aquatic invertebrates and plant material.
