General

Garganey: Small duck not much larger than Teal. Brown, grey, and black above, light grey and brown below with fine black barring. Brown head has long, white eyebrow. Upperwings mostly pale grey with two white bars and dark green patch on secondaries in flight. Dark grey bill. Female mottled light brown below with white belly, and dark and light brown above. Head is light grey with dark brown crown, white throat, white eyebrow, thick, dark line through eye, and white line below eye. Wings are darker in flight. Juvenile like female but paler.

Range and Habitat

Garganey: Scarce summer breeder. Found in Britain primarily along east coast of England, and on coastlines between England and Scotland. Breeds on lakes, reedbeds, and wetlands including flooded fields and meadows. Visible on passage between England and winter grounds in Africa.

Breeding and Nesting

Garganey: Breeds in single pairs with strong seasonal pair bond. Nest is a depression on the ground in thick vegetation, usually near water. Female builds nest and lines it with leaves, grass, feathers, and down. Female incubates eggs, usually 8 or 9, and cares for newly hatched chicks.

Foraging and Feeding

Garganey: Feeds by"dabbling" and swimming with head underwater. In spring and summer eats mostly molluscs, aquatic insects, crustaceans, worms, frogs, and small fish. Eats seeds of aquatic plants, sedges, wild rice and grass whenever available.

Vocalisation

Garganey: Utters a dry, rattling, burping display sound.

Similar Species

Garganey: The Teal has a wide, green eye mask and is distinctly yellow on the sides of rump. Both the Teal and the Gadwall lack the Garganey's broad white band along the sides of the head. The Gadwall also has lighter, orange-coloured legs and is browner overall.