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Garganey
(Anas querquedula)
 German name(s): "Knäkente"
Size: 37-41 cm; wing span 59-67 cm
Weight: 260-470 g
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Garganeys are relatively small dabbling ducks.
Their plumage
is dimorphic,
i.e. males
and females
are different.
Male
Garganeys have a characteristic pattern, with a broad black
central longitudinal stripe and two adjacent broad white stripes
running the length of the head. The rest of the head and the
entire front are finely barred brown and dark grey-brown,
while the flanks are finely barred light-grey and white.
The wings show a bold black-and white stripe pattern. The
undertail coverts and the rump are vermiculated light-brown
and mid-brown.
Females
have cryptic
plumage.
Apart from a dark eye-stripe surrounded by a pale stripe
below and a pale supercilium above it, their most characteristic
feature is a white chin patch.
Their front is light-brown, barred with darker grey-brown.
The sides are coloured as the front,
but with much bolder vermiculation (broader light-brown
edge lining on the feathers) and the upperwings are equally
strongly vermiculated, but dark grey-brown. The wings of
females have a conspicuous broad white trailing edge in flight.
Both sexes have dark-brown irises, a grey to dark-grey bill
and grey legs and feet.
Juveniles
resemble
females.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Garganey
at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Garganey is available
HERE
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Garaneys are a strongly migratory Eurasian species.
Their breeding grounds are in temperate Europe and
mid-latitude Asia, to Korea and Japan in the East.
They spend the northern winters in the South, from
southern and eastern Africa (the European and
western Asian population), parts of India (mostly
the western half) and South-east Asia (the far
eastern Asian population). Some even reach Australia.
In Europe Garganeys are found as breeding migrants in parts
of southern England, in Belgium and the Netherlands, Denmark
and southern Scandinavia. They breed basically anywhere to
the East of the river Rhine and in the the flatlands of the
Po river in northern Italy.
During their migration they can be found basically everywhere
in southern Europe, except north-western Iberia.
Garganeys have a preference for wetlands around nutrient-rich,
shallow fresh water, such as submerged
pasture and steppe. In their winter grounds they can form
large flocks, but not during the breeding season.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
D. Wilczynska reports Garganeys in wetlands along the
river Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in April 2017.
M. Eaton reports finding a Garganey in St. James's
Park, London, England, in September 2019.
J. Pires found Garganeys at Alverca,
Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, in February 2021.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Lateral view of two male Garganeys in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alverca, Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2021]
Lateral view of two male Garganeys in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alverca, Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2021]
Lateral view of a male Garganey
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Dorsal view of a male Garganey
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
Comparison of a male Garganey
with a male Northern Shoveler in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]
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FEMALE |
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Near-lateral view of a female Garganey
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. James's Park, London, England, September 2019]
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PAIR |
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Lateral view of two female Garganeys, left, two males in breeding
plumage, centre,
and 3 Northern Shovelers,
far right
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alverca, Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2021]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
