Alternative name: Madagascar Teal
- Anas bernieri
Identification
40-45 cm
- Pale, warm grey-brown all over
- Scalloped darker particularly on flanks and breast
- Black speculum
- Pale, pinkish-grey bill, slightly upturned.
- Red Legs
- Partly white underwing
- Blue Speculum
- Male larger then Female
Distribution
Lowlands of western Madagascar, Rare throughout it's Range (population 1,500-2,500 birds in 2003)[2]
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Lives in wetlands and rarely leaves that habitat. Likes shallow, open water, Fresh or Salty, preferring Brackish, with little emergent vegetation and nutrient-rich mud. It can also be found in costal mangrove forest and esturies. It is unlikely but possible in Marshes forest and Savannah.
Behaviour
Often found in small parties or pairs.
Diet
It feeds by wading in shallow muddy water, sifting the water for small insects.
Breeding
The birds migrate east to the cost to breed in December-March. They nest in tree hollows created by storm damage and decay. The birds are found in large groups of up to 40 though they disperse into pairs during the breeding season.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- BirdLife International
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Bernier's Teal. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Bernier%27s_Teal
