CHESTNUT TEAL Anas castanea

By: Marj Webber

Chestnut Teals are common visitors to Bribie Island when the waters are at suitable levels. The most likely spots to see them are at Buckley’s Hole, Kakadu Beach or in shallow waters and on sandbars in the Pumicestone Passage. There are two Teal species in our area – Chestnut Teal and Grey Teal.

They are small, elegant ducks 38-48 cm and weigh 505-800 g. Males’ heads are green and breasts and bellies are chestnut with a white patch on the flank. Eyes are red and tails are black. Large white patches under the wings are visible when they fly. Males and females are quite different in appearance, with females looking much like Grey Teals and difficult to identify. Chestnut Teal females are a little darker under the neck area. Their preferred habitats are salt and brackish waters along coastal areas but will frequent freshwater lakes and lagoons during drought times. They are mainly sedentary with many birds not moving far, but some will fly well inland or north in search of better conditions. During most of the day, many birds in small groups or large flocks roost beside the water. They are one of the few ducks that prefer salty water but need fresh water to drink. Areas in Australia where they are most likely to be seen are from Rockhampton in Queensland to Ceduna in South Australia. They are most common in Tasmania, and large numbers are also found in Victoria and NSW and in the SW of Western Australia. On occasion, they have been known to fly as far as PNG and Lord Howe Island.

Chestnut Teal feed in shallow water, mostly in the late afternoon and early morning but will also dabble for morsels during the night. Food such as insects, molluscs, crustaceans and some aquatic vegetation is found at the water’s edge. Monogamous pairs are formed to last well after the breeding season. Down-lined nests are built in hollow trees over water, or in grassy patches mainly at the water’s edge. They willingly use nest boxes if provided. Seven to ten creamy eggs are laid. Sometimes females lay their eggs in other females’ nests which can result in very large broods of up to 17 ducklings. Females incubate the eggs for about 26 days. Males do not assist with the incubation but stay close by the female during this time and help with the rearing of the ducklings when they hatch. When the young hatch they almost immediately begin to swim and walk. Both parents defend their broods and will ward off predators by chasing, splashing and pecking, and sometimes pretending to be injured and leading the offender away.

Their main predators are Crows and Ravens, Blue-tongued Lizards, Lace Monitors, Purple Swamphens, Raptors and Foxes. These will eat the eggs and babies while Raptors and foxes will also take adult birds. In coastal areas, many of their preferred habitats have been developed and made useless for their needs. In areas where shooting is legal, many Chestnut Teal are killed each season.

Even so, their conservation status is secure at present, with large numbers found in Tasmania, in the southeast, and the southwest of Western Australia.