Chestnut teal
Scientific name: Anas castanea
IUCN listed as: Least Concern
Learn before you visit!
Here are some facts about the species – Discover what they eat, find out about their natural habitat, see what they like to do, and more… Set the reading style to suit you too, everyday speak or something aimed towards children.
Child-friendly
Everyday
Diet
Chestnut Teals primarily feed on aquatic plants, seeds, insects, and small invertebrates. They use their specialized beaks to filter food from the water’s surface and mud in shallow wetlands and marshes.
Chestnut Teals eat plants, seeds, bugs, and small creatures they find in shallow water. Their beaks help them sift through mud and water to find their favourite snacks.
Breeding
During breeding season, male Chestnut Teals display their vibrant chestnut feathers to attract females. Nests are typically built concealed in dense vegetation near water, where females lay 5-10 eggs. Ducklings hatch after approximately 25 days and follow their mother to water immediately, where they are nurtured until they can swim and forage on their own.
When it’s time to start a family, boy Chestnut Teals show off their bright chestnut feathers to impress the girls. Mums make their nests hidden in thick bushes near the water. Baby ducklings hatch after about a month and quickly learn to swim with their mum.
Habitat
Chestnut Teals are commonly found across Australia and Tasmania in freshwater wetlands, lakes, and rivers with dense vegetation. They thrive in habitats where they can find ample food and safe nesting sites.
Chestnut Teals live in Australia and Tasmania near lakes and rivers that have lots of plants. They like places where they can hide in the bushes and find lots of food in the water.
At the zoo
In zoos, Chestnut Teals inhabit habitats resembling their natural wetlands. They are fed a diet consisting of pellets, grains, and occasional live insects to replicate their natural feeding habits. Zookeepers provide shallow pools for swimming and nesting materials to ensure they have a secure and stimulating environment.
In zoos, Chestnut Teals live in big bird areas that look like their homes in wetlands. They eat special food that keeps them healthy, like pellets and grains, and sometimes they get live bugs to munch on. Keepers make sure they have pools to splash around in and things to play with.
Behaviour
Chestnut Teals are social birds often seen in pairs or small groups. They communicate with soft quacks and whistles, especially during feeding or when alarmed. When feeding, they tip their bodies to reach food below the water’s surface and are quick to dive or take flight when threatened.
These ducks are friendly and like to hang out in small groups or with just one friend. They chat with each other using quiet quacks and whistles, especially when they’re looking for food or feeling a bit scared. If they see danger, they quickly dive under the water or fly away to stay safe.
Fun facts
- Chestnut Teals have amazing waterproof feathers that keep them dry even when they’re swimming.
- Male Chestnut Teals have brighter chestnut feathers than females to attract mates.
- They can fly fast, reaching speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph).
- Chestnut Teals are excellent divers, able to stay underwater for several seconds to find food.
- They are adaptable birds, often seen in both freshwater and saltwater environments.
- Chestnut Teals have special feathers that keep them dry when they swim in the water.
- Boy Chestnut Teals have brighter chestnut feathers than girls to impress them.
- They can fly super fast, almost as fast as a car on the motorway.
- Chestnut Teals are great at diving and can hold their breath underwater to find yummy food.
- They like living in lots of different places, from lakes to rivers, as long as there’s plenty of food around.
More animals to discover at our zoo
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