Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Red-billed Teal (Anas erythrorhyncha) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Spain Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of Kenya Birds of Portugal Birds of Tanzania Birds of South Africa Birds of England Birds of London Birds of Oxfordshire Birds of Suffolk

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Spain Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United Kingdom Ducks, Geese & Swans of Kenya Ducks, Geese & Swans of Portugal Ducks, Geese & Swans of Tanzania Ducks, Geese & Swans of South Africa Ducks, Geese & Swans of England

See what's near you right now

The Red-billed Teal (Anas erythrorhyncha) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 559 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Anas
Species erythrorhyncha

Where it lives

Southern Sudan and Ethiopia to South Africa

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 559 g
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Red-billed Teal feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Red-billed Teal is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Red-billed Teal (Anas erythrorhyncha) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Sudan and Ethiopia to South Africa.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 559 g, with a wing length of about 21.5 cm and a tail of around 7.7 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 10.8 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Red-billed Teal — Call

Recorded by Peter Boesman Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Red-billed Teal?

The Red-billed Teal is a large bird that weighs around 559 g.

Where does the Red-billed Teal live?

The Red-billed Teal is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Sudan and Ethiopia to South Africa, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Red-billed Teal belong to?

The Red-billed Teal (Anas erythrorhyncha) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Red-billed Teal eat?

The Red-billed Teal feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Red-billed Teal migrate?

The Red-billed Teal is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Red-billed 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 Red-billed Teal make?

1 real field recording of the Red-billed Teal — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Red-billed Teal's range?

The Red-billed Teal has a mapped global range of about 10.8 million km².