Blue-billed Teal
Spatula hottentota
The Blue-billed Teal (Spatula hottentota) is a uncommon ducks, swans, and geese found in 28 countries, weighing about 276 g. The blue-billed teal, also sometimes called spotted teal and formerly Hottentot teal, is a species of dabbling duck of the genus Spatula.
About the Blue-billed Teal
The blue-billed teal, also sometimes called spotted teal and formerly Hottentot teal, is a species of dabbling duck of the genus Spatula. It is resident in eastern, southern, and western Africa, from Sudan and Ethiopia west to Niger and Nigeria, and south to South Africa and Namibia, and also in Madagascar. It is generally sedentary, but shows nomadic behaviour in response to water requirements, moving away if drought causes wetlands to dry out.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Adult males have dark brown crown contrasting with paler face, throat, breast and side except for a blackish thumb-shaped patch on the ear region. The back of the neck is spotted with black and this spotting extends down through the neck and become intensively spotted on the breast, the spots appear to be larger and less obvious on the light brown flanks and abdomen, and the posterior underparts and under tail coverts becoming vermiculated with black. The scapulars and tail are dark brown to black, the upper wing surface is blackish as well, with the coverts giving a greenish gloss.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, France, Nigeria, United States, Switzerland.
When to see it
The Blue-billed Teal can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Blue-billed Teal?
- Adult males have dark brown crown contrasting with paler face, throat, breast and side except for a blackish thumb-shaped patch on the ear region. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Blue-billed Teal?
- The Blue-billed Teal is a medium sized bird weighing about 276 g.
- Where can you see a Blue-billed Teal?
- The Blue-billed Teal occurs in 28 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia and Botswana.
- What birds look similar to a Blue-billed Teal?
- The Blue-billed Teal is most easily confused with the Puna Teal, the Red Shoveler and the Silver Teal.
- Is the Blue-billed Teal endangered?
- The Blue-billed Teal is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Blue-billed Teal for real
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