Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Near Threatened

Waterbirds

Brown Teal

Anas chlorotis

Brown Teal (Anas chlorotis) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia & Oceania.

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Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

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The Brown Teal (Anas chlorotis) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 499 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

NT Near Threatened

Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.

Where it fits

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

Where it lives

Great Barrier I. (off northeastern North I.) and other satellites (New Zealand)

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 499 g
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Vulnerable

Steller’s Eider

Polysticta stelleri

Critically Endangered

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Brown Teal feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

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

Migration

The Brown Teal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Brown Teal (Anas chlorotis) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Great Barrier I. (off ne North I.) and other satellites (New Zealand).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 499 g, with a wing length of about 19.7 cm and a tail of around 7.8 cm.

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 936 km² — a relatively restricted global range.

Songs & calls

Brown Teal — Alarm call, call

Recorded by Sam Hill Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Brown Teal?

The Brown Teal is a large bird that weighs around 499 g.

Where does the Brown Teal live?

The Brown Teal is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Great Barrier I. (off ne North I.) and other satellites (New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Brown Teal belong to?

The Brown Teal (Anas chlorotis) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Brown Teal eat?

The Brown Teal feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Brown Teal migrate?

The Brown Teal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Brown Teal endangered?

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

What sound does the Brown Teal make?

1 real field recording of the Brown 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 Brown Teal's range?

The Brown Teal has a mapped global range of about 936 km².