Photo: Cláudio Dias Timm from Rio Grande do Sul / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Silver Teal
Spatula versicolor
Silver Teal (Spatula versicolor) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Silver Teal (Spatula versicolor) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 595 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Spatula
- Species versicolor
Quick facts
- Weight
- 595 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Silver Teal feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Silver Teal is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Silver Teal (Spatula versicolor) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA s.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 595 g, with a wing length of about 18.5 cm and a tail of around 6.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Silver Teal?
The Silver Teal is a large bird that weighs around 595 g.
Where does the Silver Teal live?
The Silver Teal is found across South America with a range covering SA s, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Silver Teal belong to?
The Silver Teal (Spatula versicolor) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Silver Teal eat?
The Silver Teal feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Silver Teal migrate?
The Silver Teal is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Silver Teal endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Silver Teal make?
1 real field recording of the Silver Teal — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Silver Teal's range?
The Silver Teal has a mapped global range of about 3.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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