Brown Teal

(Anas chlorotis)

Also known as pateke, brown duck, teal duck.
Endemic, endangered and protected.

Live: The highest populations of brown teal are found on Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands. Small groups can be found in Northland, but they are rare and isolated elsewhere.

Habitat: They prefer heavily vegetated wetlands with still or slow-flowing open water. They are able to exploit marine or estuarine environments.

Diet: In the wild they are nocturnal feeders. Their diet includes insects, worms, snails, plant shoots, juicy roots and seeds.

Zoo diet: Duck pellet mix daily.

Once recorded as being in all major swamplands, sadly wetland drainage, forest clearance and the introduction of predators have caused their decline. Two distinct flightless subspecies are found on Auckland and Campbell islands. This duck is now one of the rarest waterfowl in the world.
Click HERE to go to the dedicated Brown Teal conservation website. 

General: A small slow-flying duck. Distinguishing features include its small size and general brown colouration with lighter chest. The male has a narrow white ring around the eye; the female may have a half-ring below the eye. Females have a darker brown-black upper body than males.The wings cross high across the back. The eyes are black, beak blue-black, legs and feet slate-grey.

Flock in large groups outside the breeding season, roosting communally at traditional sites.

Breeding: July to December
Nest: Bowl-shaped, lined with down, usually in vegetation close to the water's edge.
Eggs: 4-8 creamy brown eggs incubated by the female for 27-30 days. The male acts as an aggressive guard.
Ducklings: Upper body brown-black, lower pale brown. Striped face. White spot at the base of the tail. Fledge at 50-55 days.