Nature Photographers Ltd

Garganey - Spatula querquedula. L 37-41cm. Teal-sized summer visitor to the region. Favours emergent wetland vegetation, hence unobtrusive. In flight, male shows pale blue-grey forewing and white-bordered greenish speculum; female’s speculum is brown. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has reddish brown head and broad white stripe above and behind eye. Breast is brown but otherwise plumage is greyish, except for mottled buffish brown stern. In eclipse, resembles adult female but retains wing patterns. Adult female has mottled brown plumage; similar to female Teal but bill is uniform grey bill and has pale spot at base of bill. Juvenile resembles adult female. Voice Male utters diagnostic rattle. Status Scarce breeding bird but fairly widespread on migration.