Garganey
Least ConcernSpatula querquedula
Visual Identification
Garganey
Appearance
The Garganey is a small dabbling duck with distinctive features. Males in breeding plumage are relatively easy to distinguish from other birds, with a bold white eyebrow, chocolate-brown head, and blue-grey forewings visible in flight. The body is intricately patterned with grey, brown, and buff.
Females are mottled brown with a prominent pale eyebrow and dark eye stripe. Both sexes have blue-grey forewings, though less vivid in females. In eclipse plumage, males resemble females but retain their blue-grey wing patch.
Juvenile Garganeys are similar to females but have less obvious markings and more speckling on their bellies.
Size
Length
37cm to 41cm
Wingspan
63cm to 69cm
Weight
240g to 500g
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Garganeys inhabit shallow freshwater wetlands, including marshes, flooded grasslands, and rice fields. They breed across much of Europe and Asia, from western Europe to eastern Siberia. They migrate to southern Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of southern Europe during winter.
In the UK, Garganeys are summer visitors and passage migrants, with small breeding populations in eastern England. During spring and autumn migrations, they are rare but regular visitors to coastal wetlands and inland water bodies.
Elevation Range
Up to 2,000 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical
Distribution Map
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Diet
Garganeys have a varied diet, primarily consisting of aquatic plants, seeds, and small invertebrates. They forage by dabbling in shallow water, straining food items through their bill's lamellae. During the breeding season, they increase their intake of protein-rich insects and molluscs.
In autumn and winter, their diet is mainly plant-based, with seeds from pondweed, dock, wild rice, sedges, and grasses common.
Behaviour
Garganeys are highly gregarious, often forming large flocks during migration and winter. They are swift, agile fliers capable of rapid directional changes.
When foraging, they dabble in shallow water, upending to reach submerged vegetation, and occasionally feed on land, picking at seeds and insects.
Vocalisation
Garganey are a relatively non-vocal species. Females are particularly quiet, only uttering a low-pitched quack when taking off.
The male Garganey's call is a distinctive, mechanical-sounding rattle, often described as 'kloob-kloob' or a cricket-like trill. Females produce a soft, mallard-like quack. During courtship, males emit a high-pitched whistle. In flight, both sexes may give short, nasal grunts.
Nesting & Breeding
Garganeys form pairs on wintering grounds or during spring migration. Breeding occurs from April to July, with peak activity in May and June. Males perform elaborate courtship displays, including head-bobbing and wing-lifting.
Nests are built on the ground, hidden in dense vegetation near water. Females construct a shallow depression lined with grass and down. The clutch typically contains 8-11 cream-coloured eggs.
Incubation lasts about 21-23 days and is carried out solely by the female. Ducklings are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching, capable of feeding themselves under maternal guidance. They fledge after 35-40 days.
Lifespan
years
The Garganey typically lives for 5 to 10 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While listed as Least Concern globally, Garganey populations face threats from habitat loss and degradation, particularly in breeding and wintering areas.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring wetland habitats across their range, including important stopover sites along migration routes.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Garganeys in shallow freshwater habitats during spring and autumn migration.
- Listen for the male's distinctive 'rattle' call during breeding season.
- Observe their swift, erratic flight pattern and blue-grey wing patches for identification.
- In the UK, check coastal wetlands and inland reservoirs during passage periods.
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Family:
AnatidaePredators
Garganeys face predation from various animals, including foxes, minks, large raptors such as marsh harriers, and pike in aquatic environments.
Did You Know?
- Garganeys are the only duck species that breed in Europe but winter entirely in Africa and Asia.
- Their scientific name, 'querquedula', is derived from their call.
- Male Garganeys moult twice yearly, adopting a female-like plumage after breeding.
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FAQs
How do you pronounce Garganey?
The species name is pronounced as it is written ‘gah-gen-nee’.
References
- 1
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Spatula querquedula. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22680313A86016410.
View source - 2 3
report, 2015: Wetlands International