The Sunda Teals (Anas gibberifrons) is a dabbling duck found in open wetlands in the Andaman Islands and Indonesia.
Description:
This is a mottled brown duck with white and green flashes on its wings.
The male and female Sunda Teals share the same coloration, in contrast to the related Chestnut Teal, whose male and female are strikingly different.
The nominate Sunda Teal has almost identical coloration to the female Chestnut Teal and can only be distinguished by its lighter-colored neck, paler face, and especially the bulging forehead.
The Andaman Teal has a variable amount of white on the forehead and around the eyes.
The Rennell Island Teal looked like a smaller version of the nominate subspecies, with a stubbier bill. Juveniles are paler than adults, especially on the head.
Nesting / Breeding:
The Sunda Teals nests near its favored freshwater lakes and marshes, usually on the ground, but also in tree holes or rabbit burrows.
Calls / Vocalization:
This is a vocal duck, especially at night. The male gives a soft preep, and the female has a loud quack.
Two subspecies are extant, and one extinct:
- Sunda Teal A. g. gibberifrons, occurs in central and southern IndonesiaAndaman Teal A. g. albogularis, occurs in the Andaman IslandsRennell Island Teal A. g. remissa, formerly found on Rennell Island in the Solomons.
The Grey Teal (Anas gracilis) was formerly considered to belong into this species.
More Duck Resources
Diet / Feeding:
Ducks feed on larvae and pupae usually found under rocks, aquatic animals, plant material, seeds, small fish, snails, and crabs.
Instead of “teeth,” ducks have serrations (saw-like edges) on their bills that allow them to filter food out of the water.
Captive birds are often fed commercially prepared duck food pellets – if there are insufficient natural resources available to sustain them. As they feed on insects, they are very useful in ridding gardens or lawns of harmful bugs.
