Cape Teal {Anas capensis}

Cape Teal (also known as Cape Wigeons) are small, attractive ducks that are a pale, mottled gray throughout, with distinctive pink bills and reddish eyes. The speculum is green and black, and is bordered broadly with white in front and behind. Differences in appearance between the sexes are slight. Females are slightly smaller, paler and less speckled and males may have undeveloped crests, heightened in times of excitement.

Cape Teals are primarily a nocturnal species usually keeping to themselves in pairs or small flocks, and spend much of their time ashore. Several courtship behaviors are unique to the Cape Teal such as nod swimming, which is a rapid scooting over the water surface in a semi-circle, with the wings positioned so that the speculum is showing. Both sexes display this behavior in the same way, and often nod swimming is done concurrently by both males and females.

Quick Facts

Name: Anas capensis
Habitat: Shallow lakes, marshes in open country, lagoons, estuaries and tidal flats.
Distribution: Most numerous in the drier regions throughout South Africa

Diet: Plant and animal material that includes water plants, plankton, crustaceans and tadpoles. These birds have tooth-like projections bordering the bill, which suggests that filter feeding may be important to this species.

Socialisation: Cape Teals are primarily a nocturnal species usually keeping to themselves in pairs or small flocks, and spend much of their time ashore. Several courtship behaviors are unique to the Cape Teal such as nod swimming, which is a rapid scooting over the water surface in a semi-circle, with the wings positioned so that the speculum is showing. Both sexes display this behavior in the same way, and often nod swimming is done concurrently by both males and females.

Reproduction: Cape Teal breed throughout the year, but most often between March and May. Nest sites are generally located in dense vegetation, not always near water. Seven to eight pale to deep cream colored eggs are incubated by the female for 25 to 26 days. Cape Teal are one of the few species of dabbling ducks in which the male remains with the female and plays an active part in raising the young. Because both parents raise the ducklings, fewer offspring die. Cape Teal are good parents and will vigorously defend their young even against larger birds.