# 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! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands, Coastal areas ![Cape Teal](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cape_Teal%252C_Anas_capensis%252C_Marievale_Nature_Reserve%252C_Gauteng%252C_South_Africa_%2843064310362%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cape_Teal%252C_Anas_capensis%252C_Marievale_Nature_Reserve%252C_Gauteng%252C_South_Africa_%2843064310362%29.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Anas ## 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 - **Filter Feeder:** Cape Teal can strain tiny bits of food from the water using special comb-like structures in its bill. - **Salt-Water Survivor:** Cape Teal has special glands near its eyes that remove excess salt, letting it live in salty lagoons. - **Camouflage Cloak:** 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 - **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. - **Shelter:** [Common Reed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-reed) (*Phragmites australis*) — Uses dense reedbeds for nesting and hiding from predators. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cape Teal? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Cape Teal? 34-38 cm ### What is Cape Teal's wingspan? 60-65 cm ### How much does Cape Teal weigh? 0.23-0.32 kg ### How long does Cape Teal live? 6-12 years ### How fast can Cape Teal move? 70 km/h ### What does Cape Teal eat? These ducks filter-feed on tiny plants and animals in the water, like a living sieve! ### Where is Cape Teal usually found? Wetlands, Coastal areas ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Cape Teal: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cape-teal)