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  • Garganey

Garganey

Garganey (male)
Garganey (male)
Garganey (female)
Garganey (female)
  • Scientific name: Anas querquedula
  • Bird family: Ducks, geese and swans
  • UK conservation status: Amber
  • Protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Garganey call audio

Your browser does not support this audio feature.

Patrik Aberg, Xeno-canto

Key information

The garganey is a scarce and very secretive breeding duck in the UK. It is smaller than a mallard and slightly bigger than a teal. The male is most easily recognised with a broad white stripe over the eye. In flight it shows a pale blue forewing. It feeds by 'dabbling'. Garganeys are listed as a Schedule 1 species.

What they eat:

Plant material and insects.

Measurements:

Length:
37-41cm
Wingspan:
60-63cm
Weight:
250-450g

Population:

UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.
UK breeding:
14-93 pairs

Identifying features:

This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.

Garganey (male)

Garganey male
Feather colour: Black Blue Brown Cream/buff Green Grey White
Leg colour: Grey
Beak: Black Brown Long Duck-like Chunky
Natural habitats: Grassland Wetland

Garganey (female)

Female garganey
Feather colour: Black Blue Brown Cream/buff Green Grey White
Leg colour: Brown
Beak: Black Brown Long Duck-like Chunky
Natural habitats: Grassland Wetland

Similar birds:

Male teal
Teal

Where and when to see them

Garganey are mostly found in central and southern England. They favour shallow wetlands, with flooded meadows and ditches, and plenty of aquatic vegetation - this can make it difficult to see.

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  • Resident
  • Passage
  • Summer
  • Winter
Garganey distribution map

Breeding birds arrive from March and return to Africa between July and October. Small numbers of non-breeding birds visit on passage migration in spring and autumn.

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