Baikal Teal

4 days ago

Points: 90

Spotted

The Baikal Teal is a small, elegant dabbling duck, famous for the male's striking head pattern which includes a yellow and green mask against a black and white background. Females are duller, brownish with a distinct white spot at the base of the bill. It is highly migratory, breeding in Siberia and wintering in East Asia.

Where to spot

Breeds in northern Asia (Siberia) and winters almost exclusively in East Asia, primarily South Korea, Japan, and parts of China, often in freshwater lakes, rivers, and flooded fields.

How to spot

Look for the male's unmistakable green, yellow, and black head pattern. Females can be identified by their small size, brownish plumage, and a diagnostic white spot at the base of the bill. They often feed by dabbling in shallow water.

When to spot

Best observed during the non-breeding season (October-March) in its wintering grounds in East Asia. Migration periods (spring and autumn) also offer opportunities to see them in transit.

Where to spot

Breeds in northern Asia (Siberia) and winters almost exclusively in East Asia, primarily South Korea, Japan, and parts of China, often in freshwater lakes, rivers, and flooded fields.

How to spot

When to spot

Best observed during the non-breeding season (October-March) in its wintering grounds in East Asia. Migration periods (spring and autumn) also offer opportunities to see them in transit.

Credits: Wikimedia Commons

The Baikal Teal is known for forming incredibly dense flocks during winter, sometimes numbering hundreds of thousands of individuals, creating spectacular displays.

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