Brazilian Ringed Teal Natural History
Size
These teals are one of the smallest ducks in the world growing to a length of 38cm with a wingspan of 70cm and weighing 300g.
Habitat and Distribution
These birds inhabit wetlands, swampy tropical forests, marshy clearings and small streams and ponds in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia.
Age
They can have a lifespan of up to 15 years.
Diet
The Brazilian Ringed Teal is a dabbling duck (a surface feeding duck) which eats pond weeds, insects and seeds as well as submerged plants.
Groups and Breeding
These teals create their nests within tree cavities which they line with their feathery down. They then lay up to 12 eggs and both parents take turns to incubate them until they hatch roughly 29 days later.
The young get the waterproofing oil on their feathers by rubbing against their mother’s plumage.
Threats
They are currently classified as least concern by the IUCN and face few real threats. However, in their habitat is the ever-present danger of habitat loss and destruction as well as hunting.
Interesting Facts
Only the females can quack, males make a soft whistling sound instead.
The Brazilian Teal During Your Day Out in Kent
Here at WWP we have several pairs of these birds which share the outside enclosures of our small primates opposite the entrance to the walk-through lemur enclosure.