Small numbers breed throughout Ireland. Numbers increase substantially after Autumn and Winter migration takes place.
Teal
Irish Name: | Praslacha |
Scientific name: | Anas crecca |
Bird Family: | Ducks |
Conservation status
Identification
Small duck with short neck. Males with brown head, striking green patch which extends from the eye towards the back of the neck and is thinly bordered yellow. Grey bodied with horizontal white stripe along the body, green speculum and creamy-yellow patch bordered by black on either side of the rump. Females brown, streaked and mottled dark, with green speculum.
Voice
Male with clear ringing whistle 'treel', similar to Pintail, but higher pitched. Female quacking feeble and high-pitched.
Diet
Small seeds predominate, but Enteromorpha sp. and molluscs are also frequently taken. Occasionally feed on chironomid larvae where available, though usually during the summer months. They feed by day where they are safe from shooting.
Breeding
They usually nest near small freshwater lakes or pools and small upland streams away from the coast, and also in thick cover.
Wintering
Widespread on wetlands with good cover, such as reedbeds. Wide variety of habitats, both coastal and inland, and usually below an altitude of 200 metres, including coastal lagoons and estuaries and inland marshes, lakes, ponds and turloughs.