Garganey
| Garganey | |
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| Male | |
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| Species: | A. querquedula
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| Binomial name | |
| Anas querquedula | |
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Spatula querquedula | |
The garganey (Anas querquedula) is a small dabbling duck. It breeds in much of Europe and western Asia, but is strictly migratory, with the entire population moving to southern Africa, India (in particular Santragachi), and Australasia in winter,[2] where large flocks can occur. This species was first described by Linnaeus in 1758 under its current scientific name.[3] Like other small ducks such as the common teal, this species rises easily from the water with a fast twisting wader-like flight.
Their breeding habitat is grassland adjacent to shallow marshes and steppe lakes.
Description
The adult male is unmistakable, with its brown head and breast with a broad white crescent over the eye. The rest of the plumage is grey, with loose grey scapular feathers It has a grey bill and legs. In flight it shows a pale blue speculum with a white border. When swimming it will show prominent white edges on its tertials. His crown (anatomy) is dark and face is reddish brown.[4]
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Some care is needed in separating the brown female from the similar common teal, but the stronger face markings and more frequent head-shaking when dabbling are good indicators. Confusion with the female of the blue-winged teal is also possible, but the head and bill shape is different, and the latter species has yellow legs. Pale eyebrow, dark eye line, pale lore spot bordered by a second dark line.[4]
These birds feed mainly by skimming rather than upending.
The male has a distinctive crackling mating call; the female is rather silent for a female duck, but can manage a feeble quack.
Garganey are rare breeding birds in the British Isles, with most breeding in quiet marshes in Norfolk and Suffolk. In Ireland a few pairs now breed in Wexford, with occasional breeding elsewhere.
The garganey is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. The status of the garganey on the IUCN Red List is Least Concern.[1]
Etymology
The common English name dates from the 17th century and comes from Lombard language gargenei, the plural of garganell, which ultimately comes from the Late Latin gargala "tracheal artery".[5] The English usage owes its origins to Conrad Gesner who used the Italian name in the third volume of his Historiae Animalium (History of Animals) of 1555.[6]
The scientific name is derived from Latin Anas "duck", and Querquedula, a word believed to represent to its call.[7]
References
- ^ a b Template:IUCN
- ^ Clements, James (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
- ^ Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae (in Latin). Holmiae [Stockholm]: (Laurentii Salvii). p. 126.
A. macula alarum viridi, linea alba supra oculos.
- ^ a b Dunn, J.; Alderfer, J. (2006). National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (5th ed.).
- ^ "gar·ga·ney". American Heritage Dictionary. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ "Garganey". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. Retrieved 1 June 2007. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
- ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 46, 328. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
External links
- . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). 1911.
- BirdLife species factsheet for Spatula querquedula
- RSPB Birds by Name: Garganey
- "Garganey media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Ageing and sexing (PDF; 1.1 MB) by Gerd-Michael Heinze & Javier Blasco-Zumeta
- "Spatula querquedula". Avibase.
- Garganey photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Interactive range map of Spatula querquedula at IUCN Red List maps
- Audio recordings of Garganey on Xeno-canto.
