Grey Teal, Sydney

By Charlie • February 14, 2009 • 3 comments

The Grey Teal Anas gracilis - not perhaps the most spectacular of the world’s anatidae it has to be said - is found in open wetlands in New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. Sexes are alike. In Australia it is nomadic, rapidly colonising suitable habitat following rain: conversely in 1957 large numbers fled Australia, moving to New Zealand to escape drought. Widespread throughout its large range, the Grey Teal is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

This bird was photographed in January in Sydney’s Centennial Park, and was surprisingly ‘tame’, swimming close to me and coming out of the water very near to me at one point. Check out that demon-like red eye: maybe something lurks within the depths of this small duck that is belied by its nondescript plumage? Probably not, but it’s fun to speculate…

grey teal

Photos copyright Charlie Moores 2009

Tags: australia, ducks, sydney, teals, wetlands

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About the Author

Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

3 Responses to “Grey Teal, Sydney”

Kyle Feb 14th, 2009 at 7:18 am

Nice pics of the teal, Charlie, although I’d have to argue that those eyes seem a little more “ruby” than “demonic.” Without having the wing patches to compare, his coloring still is very much like our blue- and green-wings — the only teals with which I am familiar over here in Texas.
mon@rch Feb 14th, 2009 at 10:19 pm

Charlie stunning photo of this Grey Teal! Bravo!
Sydney Accommodation Feb 15th, 2009 at 6:50 am

Good photos Charlie, captured a the teals innocence, youth and mischievious nature all at the same time. Great light and colours, especially the 5th image down. Jamie S.A.

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