Cape Teal

Anas capensis

The Cape Teal is a lovely duck that loves to swim in fresh and saltwater. They have beautiful blue and gray feathers and are often seen in groups, making them fun to watch!

Habitat: Wetlands, Coastal areas

Appearance

The Cape Teal is a small, pale duck with a striking bright pink bill and a white face. Its body plumage is mostly grey-brown, highlighted by a shimmering green patch on its wing. This light coloring helps it blend into its dry, saline habitats.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderAnseriformesFamilyAnatidaeGenusAnas

Cape Teal

Interesting facts

Cape Teals often nest in old burrows or tree hollows, not just on the ground.

Their bright pink bill is unique among ducks, almost like a living fingerprint!

These ducks frequently 'dabble' upside-down to reach food underwater.

They make quieter 'peep' or 'quack' calls than most other duck species.

Special abilities

Cape Teal can strain tiny bits of food from the water using special comb-like structures in its bill.

Cape Teal has special glands near its eyes that remove excess salt, letting it live in salty lagoons.

Cape Teal has pale, mottled plumage that helps them blend perfectly with dry grasses and sandy shorelines.

Measurements & details

Length: 34-38 cm
Wingspan: 60-65 cm
Weight: 0.23-0.32 kg
Lifespan: 6-12 years
Top Speed: 70 km/h
Clutch Size: 5-11
Incubation: 25-28 days

Diet & Feeding

These ducks filter-feed on tiny plants and animals in the water, like a living sieve!

Primary Foods

Algae
Aquatic insects
Small crustaceans
Seeds

Foraging Method

Filter Feeding

Ecological connections

eaten by

African Fish Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

Often preys on adult ducks and ducklings near water.

eats

Water Flea

Daphnia magna

Feeds on these tiny crustaceans filtered from water.

eats

Common Midge

Chironomus plumosus

Consumes larvae of this midge species from the muddy substrate.

shelters

Common Reed

Phragmites australis

Uses dense reedbeds for nesting and hiding from predators.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Webbed Feet

Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Filter Feeder

Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.