Photo: peterichman / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Garganey

Spatula querquedula

Garganey (Spatula querquedula) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of New South Wales Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northern Territory Ducks, Geese & Swans of Queensland Ducks, Geese & Swans of Victoria Ducks, Geese & Swans of Western Australia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador

See what's near you right now

The Garganey (Spatula querquedula) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 326 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 Spatula
Species querquedula

Where it lives

Western Europe to Japan

Europe & Northern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 326 g
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Garganey feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

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

Migration

The Garganey is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Garganey (Spatula querquedula) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL w Europe to Japan.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 326 g, with a wing length of about 18.8 cm and a tail of around 6.4 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 16.9 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Garganey — Call, song

Recorded by Stanislas Wroza Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Garganey?

The Garganey is a large bird that weighs around 326 g.

Where does the Garganey live?

The Garganey is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL w Europe to Japan, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Garganey belong to?

The Garganey (Spatula querquedula) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Garganey eat?

The Garganey feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Garganey migrate?

The Garganey is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Garganey 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 Garganey make?

1 real field recording of the Garganey — 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 Garganey's range?

The Garganey has a mapped global range of about 16.9 million km².