Andaman Teal
Anas albogularis
A small brown duck with a pale throat and scalloped plumage. The face is sometimes all white, but always has a white eye-ring. In flight, there is a white panel on the upperwing and white “armpits” on the underwing. Quite gregarious, gathering in marshy waterbodies. Nests in tree holes.
Identification
The species is dark brown with buffy markings. The face and throat are pale with a white ring around the eye. The bill is bluish grey and the iris is red.
Taxonomy
The first formal description of the Andaman teal was by the English ornithologist Allan Octavian Hume in 1873 under the binomial name Mareca albogularis. It is now placed with many other dabbling ducks in the genus Anas. It was formerly considered as a subspecies of the Sunda teal (Anas gibberifrons) that is found in Indonesia.
- Scientific name
- Anas albogularis
- Authority
- (Hume, 1873)
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Anas
Range and habitat
Andaman teals are endemic to the Andaman Islands (India) and Great Coco Island (Burma). They are found in inland pools as well as mangroves and lagoons. A population estimate of 500 to 600 individuals was made in a survey conducted in 1995–98, and 674 were counted in 2005. Their population has been on the increase for the last few decades, and was most recently estimated in 2014 to have slightly more than 1,000 individuals.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
They feed at night in rice fields. The breeding season is July to October and nests in reed patches. The nest is made of grass and about nine eggs forms the clutch. They were formerly considered to breed in tree hollows but recent studies found no evidence. They feed mainly on molluscs and arthropods.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Orange-cheeked Honeyeater
Meliphaga chrysogenys
A fairly large honeyeater of upper montane and subalpine forest and shrubbery. Overall olive color, light streaking with paler grayish belly and yellow legs. Distinctive yellow-orange cheek bordered with a thin black line. Often perches out prominently. Somewhat similar to Black-throated Honeyeater, but Orange-cheeked Honeyeater is larger, paler, has a different shape of yellow on the face and lacks the white neck spot. Voice, a loud, double-note “pwidip!” and a descending, squeaky song of whistled notes mixed with a loud “chuitt!”.
Rufous-necked Snowfinch
Pyrgilauda ruficollis
Quite brightly-colored for a snowfinch. Pale sandy brown above and white below with an orange crescent on the back of the cheek. May be confused with Blanford’s Snowfinch, but look out for a pair of roughly equal-length black stripes on the face which form a right angle. Found on wide open steppe meadows, pastures, and near human settlements.
Rock Bush-Quail
Perdicula argoondah
A squat and rotund bush-quail. Males have a dull chestnut forecrown and face, a thin white eyebrow over a dark brown eyeline that broadens behind the eye. Lightly barred brown above and boldly barred in black and white below. Females have a similar but duller head pattern with vinaceous underparts without barring. Note the slaty gray bill and orange legs. Found in pairs or family groups in dry rocky areas with scrub. Secretive, but its musical trill followed by rapidly ascending piping notes is often heard.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.