Anas gracilis

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Family

Anatidae

Genus

Anas

Species

gracilis

Common Names

Grey Teal, Slender Teal, Wood Teal

Distinguishing Features

This medium sized, 42-45cm duck has a patchy appearance, as each grey-brown feather is edged in a cream colour. It has a red eye and a pale patch on the throat, just below the grey bill. When wings are spread, a thick, green-black band of feathers and a large white wing patch are noticeable. From underneath, wing feathers are mostly grey-brown, edged with a dark band. Young birds are slightly paler.

Survey Techniques

Call and visual identification.

Species Call

The female makes a loud, continuous quacking. Males make an almost muted 'pip!'.

Similar Species

 It is difficult to distinguish between this species and female Chestnut Teals (Anas castanea), with the light colour of the Grey Teal's throat being the major difference.

Distribution

This species is found in all areas of Australia, travelling to areas after heavy rainfall events. They are also widespread across many of Australia's neighbouring islands in the Pacific and on and around New Zealand and TAS.

 

Country of Origin

Australia

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - Regional

This species is uncommon in the ACT region.

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - National

Secure, not listed under the EPBC Act 1999. It is considered one of the most numerous and widespread of all the Australian ducks.

LSCCES Population

Three sightings were made on the ANU campus.

Associated vegetation community

This species will inhabit almost any wetland environment, moving to more favourable habitats following rain events, preferring swamps, lagoons and inland floodwaters.

Limiting Resources

The Grey Teal can only survive in areas with abundant water, prefering wetlands with plenty of aquatic vegetation and mature, hollow-bearing trees for nesting. However, it is a frequent traveller and will confidently move to more optimal locations.

Breeding

The main breeding period usually runs from July to November, however the Grey Teal will respond to breed after a significant rainfall event, especially in areas where good rain may not be reliable. In years with good rains, up to three broods can be raised. A hollow limb is the preferred nesting site, but they often nest on the ground, on a simple nest of down feathers. The female carries out all of the nesting activities, laying 6-12 small eggs. She incubates them for 24-26 days and leads the young out of the nest soon after hatching. While many eggs are laid, young birds have an extremely high mortality rate, few surviving past three years.

Behaviour

This species is highly social, spending most of their time in flocks of tens to hundreds. It is often seen in shallow water, bobbing and 'duck diving' down for food, or perched on dead tree branches on the water. They travel in compact flocks with swift flight.

Functional Group

Omnivore

Food Species

The Grey Teal feeds mostly on the seeds of a wide range of aquatic plants, including smartweeds (Polygonum), water-couch (Paspalum), sedges (Carex), rye-grass (Lolium), wallaby-grass (Danthonia) and oat-grass (Agrostis). They will also eat aquatic insects and their larvae, especially water-beetles (Dytiscidae), water-boatmen (Corixidae), midges (Chironomidae) and mosquitoes (Culicidae).

Predators

The low-lying nests of the Grey Teal are easily predated by ground dwelling Black Rats (Rattus Rattus), Silver Gulls (Larus novaehollandiae ) and Swamp Harriers (Circus aeruginosus). The Purple Moorhen (Porphyrio porphyrio ) will steal eggs and may kill ducklings. European Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), Dogs (Canis familiaris) and Cats (Felis catus) are also able to attack young birds.

Interesting Fact

The Grey Teal has adapted extremely well to Australia's droughts and floods, somehow seeming to sense distant rainfall, travelling great distances to arrive at areas just days after a significant rainfall event.