Garganey

The Garganey, or Spatula querquedula, is a small, elegant dabbling duck. The male is particularly striking with its brown head and breast, adorned with a broad white crescent over the eye. The rest of its plumage is a sleek grey, accented with loose grey scapular feathers. Both sexes have a grey bill and legs, but it is the male that boasts a pale blue speculum edged with white in flight, and prominent white edges on its tertials when afloat.

Identification Tips

To identify the male Garganey, look for its distinctive brown head and breast with the white crescent over the eye. The female, while more subdued in color, can be distinguished from similar species by her stronger face markings and the characteristic head-shaking behavior when dabbling. In flight, observe the pale blue speculum with a white border. The Garganey's size is about 41 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 58 to 69 cm, and a weight between 300 and 440 grams.

Habitat

The Garganey prefers grasslands adjacent to shallow marshes and steppe lakes for its breeding habitat. These areas provide the ideal environment for nesting and access to food.

Distribution

A migratory species, the Garganey breeds across much of Europe and the Palearctic. Come winter in the Northern Hemisphere, they embark on a long journey to southern Africa, India, Bangladesh, and Australasia, where they can be seen in large, sociable flocks.

Behaviour

This species is known for its fast, twisting wader-like flight, which allows it to rise easily from the water. The Garganey feeds mainly by skimming the water's surface rather than upending. During the breeding season, males can be heard making a distinctive crackling mating call, while females are generally quieter, with a more subdued quack.

Song & Calls

The male Garganey's mating call is a unique crackling sound, while the female's vocalizations are less pronounced, typically a feeble quack.

Breeding

Garganeys are rare breeders in the British Isles, favoring quiet marshes in Norfolk and Suffolk, with a few pairs in County Wexford and Lough Beg in County Londonderry, Ireland, and occasionally elsewhere.

Similar Species

When identifying the female Garganey, one must take care not to confuse her with the common teal or the blue-winged teal. Notable differences include head and bill shape, as well as leg coloration in the case of the blue-winged teal.

Diet and Feeding

The Garganey feeds by skimming the surface of the water, rather than the more common upending seen in other duck species.

Conservation status

The Garganey is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is also one of the species protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).