Silver teal
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The silver teal or versicolor teal (Spatula versicolor) is a species of dabbling duck in the genus Spatula. It breeds in South America.
Between April and June they prefer reed beds and will lay 6 to 10 creamy-pink eggs. The eggs will hatch after 25 to 27 days.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As with swans and geese, both parents will rear the ducklings.<ref name="McKinney 131–138">Template:Cite journal</ref> A pair may bond long term. It lives on fresh water in small groups, and feeds primarily on vegetable matter such as seeds and aquatic plants.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Citation needed<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The silver teal's range includes southern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands,<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> and the Falkland Islands.<ref name="Clements">Clements, J. (2007)</ref> The southernmost birds migrate to southern Brazil in the winter.
Silver teals are on the whole placid ducks but may be protective of eggs, young and females.<ref name="McKinney 131–138"/>
Description
They have a black cap that extends below the eyes, and a bluish bill with a yellow tip. They also have a green speculum with a white border.<ref>ArthurGrosset.com</ref> The female's plumage is slightly duller and has less yellow at the base of the beak.<ref name=":0" />
The Puna teal was previously regarded as a subspecies of this bird. Currently, there are two subspecies:
- S. versicolor versicolor northern silver teal located in Paraguay, southern Bolivia, and southern Brazil.<ref name="Clements" />
- S. versicolor fretensis southern silver teal located in southern Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands.<ref name="Clements" />
References
Sources
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- Clements, James, (2007) The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World, Cornell University Press, Ithaca
- "Dabbling Ducks". Connecticut Waterfowl Trust. April 2, 2003 (Retrieved October 31, 2006).