Binghamton Zoo Animals

Ringed Teal

(Callonetta leucophrys)
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Callonetta
Species: Callonetta leucophrys

HABITAT AND RANGE: Ringed Teal ducks are found in South America, from southern Bolivia, Paraguay, and southwestern Brazil to northeastern Argentina and Uruguay. Their habitats include tropical, swampy forests and marshy clearings in well-wooded lowlands, as well as secluded pools and small streams.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Roughly translated, the Latin name of the Ringed Teal, Callonetta leucophrys, means “the beautiful duck with the white wing patches.” Typical of the wood duck family, Ringed Teal have iridescent greenish plumage patterns, especially on their wings, and the white wing patches are one of their distinguishing characteristics. The males have a finely speckled, salmon colored breast, a rich chestnut back, and pale gray flanks. A black band runs from the top of its head down to the nape of the neck. The female has an olive brownish back with a head blotched and striated with white. She has barring on a pale chest and belly, with a dark tail and a contrasting pale rump. Ringed teal are small ducks, about 14-15 inches long, with a wingspan of about 28 inches. They generally weigh about 11-12 ounces.

ADAPTATIONS: The wood duck family is unusual in that they are perching ducks. They have fairly long toes and strong, pointed claws on their feet, making it easy for them to perch in trees. Their webbed feet allow for easy swimming, as well as support on mud and floating vegetation. Ringed teal are surface feeders and are able to use their coarse lamellae almost like teeth to cut vegetation. Lamella means “little plates” and refers to the plates along the bill-edge of ducks. They generally feed by immersing the head, neck, and front of the body under water with the tail in the air, grazing on submerged plants. This behavior is known as “dabbling” or “puddling.” Though they are surface ducks, ringed teal can dive underwater to escape predators. However, they seldom dive deeper than one meter. While swimming, they hold their tails horizontally so that they do not touch the surface of the water. After dabbling, they flap their wings vigorously a few times to shake out any water that might have entered the wing pockets or other air spaces.

DIET: In the wild, ringed teal feed predominantly on water plants and seeds, with some insects. In the zoo, they will eat various grains and greens.

REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: As part of his courtship display, the male will flash his iridescent wing patches toward a female to attract her attention. Breeding always takes place on the water. Pair bonds are very strong, but they do not necessarily mate for life. Ringed teal build their nests in tree cavities, and line them with down. 6-12 eggs are laid and are incubated for about 29 days, with the male and female taking turns incubating the eggs and caring for the young. Hatching is timed so that it coincides with the best possible weather and food availability. The chicks are precocial, meaning that they are well developed when they are hatched. They follow their mother out of the nest only a day or two after hatching, tumbling to the ground but seldom getting hurt. As their plumage needs to be water repellent when they leave the nest, they rub against their mother’s abdominal plumage to get the necessary oil. They eat on their own, taking aquatic vegetation and insects as demonstrated by the adults. They are able to fly 50-55 days after hatching.

STATUS IN WILD: Ringed teal are not common, but they are not globally threatened. Little is known about their numbers in the wild, but they seem to be locally abundant in certain areas.