Garganey

Spatula querquedula

Genus · Shovelers and Allies Family · Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Lake wetlandsMarshy grasslandWater edges

Look for the male's long white eyebrow. In flight, watch for the pale blue patches on the front of the wings.

Garganey

♂ Male · ♀ Female

Stats
Wingspan58–69 cm
Weight250–550 g
Length37–41 cm
Lifespan wild5–15 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeScrape
Clutch size8–11 eggs
Incubation21–23 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationMigratory
Social BehaviourFlocking

Diet: Omnivore

🦀Crustaceans
🦗Insects
🐚Mollusks
🍃Plants
🌻Seeds

Habitat

🛶 Lake wetlands🌾 Marsh
✦ Fun Fact

Garganeys often migrate in small, loose groups rather than large flocks, making them less conspicuous during migration.

About

A small, elegant dabbling duck and a true summer visitor. It is the only European duck that migrates entirely to sub-Saharan Africa for winter. It prefers shallow, quiet lakes with floating vegetation. It is shy and smaller than a Mallard.

Behaviour

Garganeys are active at dawn and dusk. They feed on aquatic plants and surface insects. The male has a dry, rattling courtship call like a finger run along a comb. In flight, they show pale blue-grey forewings in both sexes.

Sexual Dimorphism

♂ Male

Features a chocolate-brown head with a prominent, long white eyebrow stripe. His flanks are finely patterned grey.

♀ Female

A mottled brown duck. She is distinguished from the Teal by a stronger face pattern: a dark eye-stripe and a pale spot at the base of the bill.

Similar species

Eurasian Teal
🐦
Eurasian Teal
Anas crecca
Northern Shoveler
🐦
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
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