Baikal Teal
Baikal Teal
Sibirionetta formosa
At a Glance
A beautiful small duck of eastern Asia, rarely wandering into Alaska. Has been reported at a few other sites in North America, but these birds could have been escapes from captivity. Baikal Teal apparently has been decreasing on its native range in recent decades, and it may be reaching Alaska less frequently now than in the past.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Duck-like Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Coasts and Shorelines, Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers, Saltwater Wetlands
Behavior
Direct Flight, Swimming
Range & Identification
Description
15-17" (39-43 cm). Male has complicated face pattern of buff and dark green; pink chest separated from gray sides by white stripe. Female resembles female Green-winged Teal but has stronger face pattern, white spot by base of bill.
Size
About the size of a Crow, About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull
Wing Shape
Pointed, Tapered
Tail Shape
Short
Songs and Calls
Male: wot-wot-wot. Female: quack. Both sexes deep-voiced.
Sign up for Audubon's newsletter to learn more about birds like the Baikal Teal