The garganey is a tiny duck that dabbles. Although it is purely migratory, it breeds across much of Europe and throughout the Palearctic. These birds mostly skim for food as opposed to upending. The female duck is quite quiet for a female duck but can muster a weak quack; the male duck has a characteristic crackling mating call. With a large white crescent above the eye and a brown head and breast, the mature male is easily identifiable. Grey feathers cover the rest of the body, including the loose scapular feathers. Its legs and beak are gray. It displays a bright blue speculum with a white border when in flight. Its tertials will have noticeable white borders when swimming. His face has a reddish brown colour, and his crown (anatomy) is dark.
Garganey Specifications
Garganey ID
Wetlands with reedy and other surrounding vegetation are home to this little and frequently quite unassuming duck. Males have a distinguishing pale gray forewing that stands out in flight, a huge white eyebrow on a dark brown head, and pale gray flanks. Females are fairly similar to female Green-winged Teals but have more contrasting head patterns, including lighter eyebrows, darker eye stripes, and whitish throats without streaks. It breeds widely throughout Eurasia; spends the winters in southern Asia and Africa. On more open water, even tidal mudflats, migrants may be present. It easily makes friends with other ducks and mostly forages by dabbling.
