Baikal Teal

Taxobox
name = Baikal Teal
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = down

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = An adult Baikal Teal drake.
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Anseriformes
familia = Anatidae
genus = "Anas"
species = "A. formosa"
binomial = "Anas formosa"
binomial_authority = Georgi, 1775

The Baikal Teal ("Anas formosa") is a dabbling duck that breeds within the forest zone of eastern Siberia from the Yenisey basin eastwards to Kamchatka. It is a migratory species, wintering in Japan, Korea and northern and eastern China. Molecular (Johnson & Sorenson, 1999) and behavioral (Johnson "et al.", 2000) data suggest that it has no close relatives among living ducks and should be placed in a distinct genus; it is possibly closest to such species as the Garganey and the Northern Shoveler.

At between 39 and 43 cm, this duck is slightly larger and longer-tailed than the Common Teal. The breeding male is unmistakable, with a striking green, yellow and black head pattern and a white vertical line at the side of the breast.

The female also has a distinctive head pattern with a small but prominent circular white loral spot and a dark stripe behind the eye. Some "females" have "bridle" markings on their faces, but it has been suggested that at least some of these bridled "females," if not all, are in fact juvenile males [Dunn, John L. and Alderfer, Jonathan, "National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition" ISBN 0-7922-5314-0 ] . The juvenile has a plumage similar to that of the female and can be distinguished from the Common Teal by the pale loral spot.

In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female, but plumage is a much richer rufous colour.

It breeds in pools on the tundra edge and within swampy forests. In winter it is found on lowland fresh waters.

This species is classified as Vulnerable due to hunting and destruction of its wintering wetland habitats. However, recent books state that the species is making a good comeback. [Dunn, John L. and Alderfer, Jonathan, "National Geographic Complete Birds of North America", ISBN 0-7922-5314-0] .

There are approximately 300,000 baikal teal in the world. [cite video
date2 = 2006-03-05
title = "Planet Earth" episode 1: "From Pole to Pole"
medium = Documentary
publisher = BBC]

Notes

References

* Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is vulnerable
* Johnson, Kevin P. & Sorenson, Michael D. (1999): Phylogeny and biogeography of dabbling ducks (genus Anas): a comparison of molecular and morphological evidence. "Auk" 116(3): 792–805. [http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v116n03/p0792-p0805.pdf PDF fulltext]
* Johnson, Kevin P. McKinney, Frank; Wilson, Robert & Sorenson, Michael D. (2000): The evolution of postcopulatory displays in dabbling ducks (Anatini): a phylogenetic perspective. "Animal Behaviour" 59(5): 953–963 [http://ducksrus.bu.edu/~msoren/pubs/AnimBehav2000b.pdf PDF fulltext]

External links

* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=461 BirdLife Species Factsheet.]
*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Anas_formosa/ images and movies of the Baikal teal "(Anas formosa)"]