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Ringed teal
Ringed teal
Ringed teal
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Ringed teal
Female (left) and male, Ingeniero Maschwitz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Callonetta
Delacour, 1936
Species:
C. leucophrys
Binomial name
Callonetta leucophrys
(Vieillot, 1816)

The ringed teal (Callonetta leucophrys) is a small duck of marshes, pools, and forest wetlands native to south-central South America. It is the only species of the genus Callonetta. Formerly often placed with the perching ducks in the tribe Cairinini,[2] this species is now known to be closer to shelducks and belongs in the subfamily Tadorninae.[3][4]

Description

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The ringed teal is 35–38 cm (14–15 in) long, with a 70 cm (28 in) wingspan, and a weight of 190–360 g (6.7–12.7 oz).[2][5] The drake has a rich chestnut back, pale grey flanks, and a salmon-coloured breast speckled in black. A black band runs from the top of its head down to the nape.

Females have an olive-brownish back, a head blotched and striated in white, and pencilled barring on a pale chest and belly. Both males and females have a dark tail, a contrasting pale rump, and a distinctive white patch on the wing. The bill is grey and legs and feet are pink in both sexes. Pairs easily bond.

Their contact calls are a cat-like mee-oowing in ducks and a lingering peewoo in drakes.[2][5] The male and female retain similar plumage throughout the year, lacking an eclipse plumage.[6] Ringed teals also have webbed toes with long, pointed claws that allow the birds to sit on tree branches.

Breeding habits

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The ringed teal breeds in northern Argentina, southern and central Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay;[1] it is resident or disperses short distances after the breeding season.[5] Upon reaching sexual maturity, ringed teals form strong pair bonds. These pair bonds typically last a single breeding season but can last for the lifetime of a pair. A pair bond begins with the male courting the female. In general, courting consists of large amounts of preening, flashing the iridescent green speculum, and swimming in figure eights around the female of interest while calling.

Once a pair bond is solidified, mating occurs in the water. The nests are usually in tree cavities, but they will also breed in the large stick nests built by monk parakeets.[2] The nests are lined with down, and the female tends to be the defender of the nest. The male will defend the female against other males and potential predators throughout their pair bond.

Females typically lay 6-12 eggs, which are white. The eggs are incubated for an average of 26–28 days.[5] Both male and female participate incubating the eggs, but one captive study shows that the females were solely responsible for incubation.[citation needed]

Chicks

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Hatched chicks are precocial, having a layer of down and effectively walking, functioning, and feeding themselves. Although the chicks hatch with a layer of feather down, it is not immediately waterproof. Until their own oil glands are fully developed, chicks receive their waterproofing oils from contact with their parents' feathers. Both the male and female play a large role in raising and defending the chicks until fledging at 50–55 days old. The male tends to be the most invested and will often be seen following behind separated or slower chicks.

Until fledging, the chicks stay in a close group and learn quickly from their parents how to forage, swim efficiently, and avoid predators. The bonded pair is often able to produce two groups of offspring in one breeding season. The male will continue to care for the first group of chicks while the female incubates the second group of eggs. The ringed teal's pair bonding behaviour makes reproduction very efficient. It is possible for a bonded pair to have laid and hatched up to 24 offspring by the end of a breeding season.

Habitat

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Their habitats include tropical, swampy forests and marshy clearings in well-wooded lowlands, as well as secluded pools and small streams.[5] As a predominantly aquatic species, ringed teals eat a variety of aquatic plants and invertebrates, as well as any seeds that can be found. Ringed teals are classified as "dabblers" as opposed to "divers".

Dabblers tend to feed on plant and insect material near the surface of the water, whereas divers feed on plants, invertebrates, and fish deeper under the water's surface. Although dabblers may submerge their heads and upper torso while putting their tails up in the air, also known as "up-ending", they rarely completely submerge themselves and stay under for periods of time, such as the diving ducks do.

Lifespan

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Ringed teals can live up to 15 years in captivity. The average life span for wild individuals is not known.[7]

[edit]
  • Male, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
    Male, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
  • Female, La Pampa, Argentina
    Female, La Pampa, Argentina
  • Pair in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
    Pair in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
  • In flight, showing the white wing patch; Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
    In flight, showing the white wing patch; Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
  • Eggs (Muséum de Toulouse)
    Eggs (Muséum de Toulouse)

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ringed teal

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Ringed teal (Callonetta leucophrys) is a small, endemic to south-central , measuring 36–38 cm in length and weighing 310–340 g, with striking in : males feature a pale face, black crown and collar, salmon-pink breast speckled in black, chestnut back, gray-barred flanks, white hip patch, blue bill, and pink legs, while females are duller with an olive-brown back, white-streaked face, and barred pale underparts; both sexes display a prominent white wing patch and metallic green speculum in flight. This inhabits tropical swampy forests, marshy clearings in well-wooded lowlands, secluded pools, small streams, and paddies, occasionally up to 2,580 m in , where it forages diurnally by dabbling for aquatic plants, seeds, shoots, and . Its geographic range spans central and southeastern , including much of , extending from northern provinces southward to , , , , and southern (), though it remains locally common without broad migratory movements. Ringed teals are social and arboreal for their size, often perching in trees and escaping predators by diving; they form monogamous pairs that nest in tree cavities, with s laying 6–12 eggs incubated for 25–28 days by the , with both parents raising the ducklings, which at 50–55 days, potentially raising up to 24 offspring per season. Vocalizations include a "mee-oowing" call and "peewoo" notes used in contact. Formerly placed in the genus Anas, it is now the sole member of Callonetta and classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with an estimated 6,700–67,000 mature individuals and a stable population facing no major threats.

Taxonomy

Classification

The Ringed teal (Callonetta leucophrys) belongs to the order , which encompasses all waterfowl including ducks, geese, and swans, and is placed within the family , the diverse group of ducks and their allies. It occupies the monotypic Callonetta, meaning it is the sole in this genus, a classification that underscores its distinct evolutionary lineage among South American waterfowl. Historically, the ringed teal was classified under the widespread dabbling duck genus Anas, as seen in early 20th-century treatments, due to superficial similarities in habits and habitat preferences. However, by the mid-20th century, ornithologists recognized its separation into the distinct Callonetta based on morphological and behavioral evidence. Key studies highlighted differences in postcranial that deviate from typical Anas species, supporting its independent generic status. Behavioral analyses further justified this by noting stronger pair bonds, more elaborate male display rituals like chin-lifting, and female vocalizations lacking the characteristic Anas quack, traits aligning it more closely with perching ducks or shelducks. Plumage patterns provide additional diagnostic traits for the , including a prominent patch on the greater coverts and iridescent green secondaries in males, which differ from the more uniform speckled patterns in Anas teals. Molecular phylogenetic studies using have reinforced this separation, positioning Callonetta outside the Anas clade, with possible affinities to shelducks in the Tadornini. These combined lines of evidence—morphological, behavioral, and genetic—have solidified the ringed teel's placement as a unique lineage within .

Etymology

The common name "ringed teal" refers to the bird's prominent white ring around the eye and its small size, comparable to other species in the teal group of ducks. The term "teal" denotes a small freshwater duck and originates from Middle English around 1300, likely derived from Middle Dutch teling or a related West Germanic root. The scientific name Callonetta leucophrys was first described as Anas leucophrys by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1816, based on specimens from Paraguay. The genus name Callonetta, proposed by Jean Delacour in 1936, combines the Ancient Greek words kallos (beauty) and nētta (duck), reflecting the species' attractive plumage. The specific epithet leucophrys derives from Ancient Greek leukos (white) and ophrus (eyebrow), alluding to the white superciliary stripe. In regional South American nomenclature, it is known in Spanish as pato ceja blanca, meaning "white-browed duck," as recorded by Félix de Azara in the early 19th century.

Description

Physical characteristics

The ringed teal is a small , measuring 35–38 cm (14–15 inches) in length, with a of 70 cm (28 inches), and weighing 310–340 g (11–12 ounces). males display vibrant featuring a back, pinkish breast speckled with black, a black coronal stripe extending from the head to the neck, grey barred flanks, and white hip patch. Both sexes have a dark tail, pale rump, and display a prominent white patch and metallic speculum in flight. Females possess a duller, brownish overall tone, with less pronounced markings, an olive-brown back, white-streaked face, and barred pale underparts. is pronounced in coloration but absent in size, and the species lacks an eclipse plumage, maintaining similar appearance year-round. Structurally, ringed teals have webbed feet equipped with long, pointed claws that enable perching in trees, along with a short, broad bill adapted for dabbling in shallow water to forage for vegetation and .

Vocalizations

The ringed teal produces vocalizations that facilitate communication. Males emit a lingering "peewoo" or whistle call, while females produce a cat-like "mee-oowing" or quack. Both sexes may give alarm calls resembling "meow" or hisses when threatened.

Distribution and habitat

Geographic range

The ringed teal (Callonetta leucophrys) is native to south-central South America, with its core distribution encompassing northern Argentina (extending south to Buenos Aires province), southern and central Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil (primarily Rio Grande do Sul). This range covers an estimated extent of occurrence of 4,150,000 km², primarily in lowland and riverine areas, though the species has been recorded at elevations up to 2,580 m in regions such as Cochabamba, Bolivia. No vagrants outside this native range have been documented in reliable records. The appears stable based on available ornithological surveys, consistent with descriptions from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that align closely with current observations. While habitat alterations, such as the creation of fields, may have facilitated minor local expansions in agricultural landscapes, no large-scale range shifts have been confirmed. Ringed teals are largely resident within their range, exhibiting limited dispersal rather than long-distance migration. Post-breeding movements involve local shifts to nearby wetlands, with individuals occasionally recorded in central (e.g., and Santa Fe provinces) or northward into central (e.g., and ) during the austral winter (June–November). These patterns reflect opportunistic use of seasonal water sources without evidence of nomadic or irruptive behavior beyond the native boundaries.

Habitat preferences

The ringed teal (Callonetta leucophrys) primarily inhabits swampy tropical forests and marshy clearings within well-wooded lowlands, favoring environments that provide ample cover and access to . These are also commonly found in secluded pools, small streams, and rice paddies, where shallow freshwater bodies support their needs for concealment and foraging. Habitats often include flooded forests providing cavities for nesting. Key habitat requirements include dense emergent vegetation along shorelines for protection from predators and proximity to mature woodlands, which offer tree cavities for nesting. The shows a strong preference for wetlands with minimal human disturbance, such as subtropical or tropical swamp forests, permanent freshwater marshes, and small lakes or pools, avoiding larger open water bodies that lack sufficient vegetative cover. While ringed teals utilize these wetland habitats year-round, breeding occurs mainly in flooded forest areas adjacent to marshes during the austral spring and summer, with post-breeding dispersal leading to wider use of lowland wetlands in non-breeding seasons. Foraging within these microhabitats typically involves dabbling in shallow waters amid emergent plants, though detailed behaviors are addressed elsewhere.

Behaviour

Diet and foraging

The ringed teal exhibits an omnivorous diet, primarily consisting of aquatic plants such as seeds and shoots, with supplementation from including and small crustaceans. This herbivore-leaning feeding strategy allows the species to exploit a range of resources efficiently. Ringed teals employ dabbling techniques to , primarily picking food items from the water's surface or performing head dips and upending in shallow waters to access submerged vegetation. They occasionally graze on land for seeds, particularly in agricultural areas. These birds are opportunistic feeders, frequently utilizing paddies in southern for . The forages diurnally, with birds typically feeding in small groups or pairs. The species' bill features lamellae—plate-like ridges along the edges—that enable efficient filtering and straining of matter and small particles from , supporting their primarily vegetarian . While the diet remains largely plant-based year-round, there is evidence of increased consumption of during the breeding season to meet heightened nutritional demands.

Reproduction

The ringed teal exhibits a strongly monogamous , with pairs forming long-term bonds that often persist for life or multiple seasons, enhancing reproductive efficiency through stable partnerships. behaviors include aerial displays, such as paired flights accompanied by vocalizations—a short from the male and a "honk" from the female—as well as aquatic displays where males preen and flash their iridescent green wing patches in figure-eight swimming patterns to attract and solicit females. Ringed teals are cavity nesters, typically selecting hollows or abandoned stick nests of other birds, often positioned 5–10 meters above the ground in forested wetlands for protection from predators. The female lines the nest with down feathers and lays a of 6–12 white eggs, usually one per day, with an average clutch size of around 8–10 in the wild. Incubation, lasting 29 days, is performed by both parents; hatching success is high due to the secure cavity environment, which shields eggs from environmental hazards and predation. The breeding season occurs from September to March across their southern range, aligning with the onset of the when increased water availability supports and conditions, with up to two per year potentially raising 24 . Upon hatching, precocial ducklings—covered in greyish down with white patches—are led to water by the female within hours, while both parents provide care; males actively defend the with distraction displays, retrieve strays, and act as sentinels, whereas females handle brooding. Ducklings at 50–55 days, achieving flight independence, after which family units may persist briefly before pairs separate post-breeding.

Social structure

Ringed teals maintain social organization centered on strong pair bonds, which are often reinforced through mutual displays and contact calls, and may persist year-round or across multiple seasons. Outside the breeding period, these pairs or small family groups associate loosely, forming flocks typically numbering 10–20 individuals during dispersal, while they gather in larger flocks during the breeding season. Territorial behavior is mild, with pairs defending only immediate nesting vicinities during the breeding season; in non-breeding contexts, the shows low aggression and tolerates close proximity to conspecifics. The ringed teal is predominantly sedentary within its South American range, undertaking only short post-breeding dispersals of up to several hundred kilometers rather than true migration, often moving southward in response to seasonal conditions. Interspecific interactions are generally limited, though rare hybridizations with closely related ducks such as the Brazilian teal (Amazonetta brasiliensis) have been documented, primarily in but occasionally in the wild.

Conservation

Population status

The ringed teal (Callonetta leucophrys) is classified as Least Concern on the , a designation it has maintained since the 1988 assessment due to its large geographic range exceeding 4.15 million km² and lack of evidence for rapid population decline. The global population is estimated at 25,000–100,000 mature individuals, reflecting a moderately large but imprecisely quantified total across its South American distribution. While the trend is suspected to be slowly decreasing at a rate of 10–19% over three generations (approximately 16 years), this does not approach the thresholds for higher threat categories, indicating overall stability with no significant net loss. Population monitoring for the ringed teal lacks a systematic, range-wide scheme, resulting in poor data quality and reliance on localized observations. Regional surveys provide key insights, such as a census in Bañados de Figueroa, Argentina, that recorded 800–1,000 individuals, highlighting local abundance in suitable wetland areas. Similar ad hoc surveys in Brazil and other range countries contribute to broader assessments, though comprehensive counts remain challenging due to the species' dispersed occurrence in forested wetlands. Captive populations in zoos and aviaries worldwide offer supplementary conservation insights, including breeding success and behavioral studies that inform wild population dynamics, as the species breeds readily in controlled environments. The ' population stability is supported by its extensive range across multiple countries and adaptability to modified habitats, allowing persistence despite localized pressures like habitat alteration. This resilience, combined with no evidence of severe fragmentation or rapid declines, underpins its Least Concern status and emphasizes the value of ongoing regional monitoring to track any future shifts.

Threats and protection

The ringed teal faces primary threats from habitat loss and degradation, primarily driven by and , including the drainage of wetlands for conversion to farmland. These activities have resulted in a 14% loss of tree cover within the species's range between 2003 and 2019, with projections estimating an additional 17% loss over the coming decades if current trends continue. The species's dependence on flooded forests with tree cavities for nesting exacerbates its vulnerability to these changes. Hunting and trapping pose additional risks in certain regions, where individuals are targeted for or the pet trade, though the overall impact remains localized rather than range-wide. Minor threats include with , which can affect nesting sites and resources, as well as potential nest predation in altered habitats. Conservation efforts include habitat protection within key areas such as the Iberá Wetlands in and Parque Nacional Tinfunqué - Estero Patiño in , where over 33% of important bird areas for the are covered by protected status. Local regulations restrict in parts of its range, and ongoing monitoring programs track responses to environmental pressures. Although not listed under , the benefits from broader wetland restoration initiatives across . in zoos supports educational efforts to raise awareness about . The ringed teel's population remains stable overall, but continued vigilance is required to mitigate the effects of agricultural intensification on its wetland habitats.
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