Puna Teal (Spatula puna)

Order: Anseriformes | Family: Anatidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

puna-teal
Age: Adult | Sex: Male & Female | Loc. Cusco, Peru

puna-teal
Age: Adult | Sex: Male & Female | Loc. Huacarpay, Cusco

puna-teal
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Peruvian Andes

puna-teal
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Cusco, Peru


Identification & Behavior: ~48.5 cm (19 in). The Puna Teal has a bi-colored, black and white, head. The bill is sky blue with black along the ridge of the culmen. Both sexes are mostly brown with black mottles on the female and fine barring on the sides and flanks on the male. It forages at the edges of lakes and wetlands, as well as in wet grasslands. It is distinguished from the similar White-cheeked Pintail by having a bi-colored black and white head, and a sky-blue bill. Also, see Ruddy Duck.

Status: The Puna Teal is common to uncommon in the high Andes at elevations ranging between 3000 to 4400 m. It also occurs in Bo and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Pato de la Puna.

Sub-species: Puna Teal (Spatula puna) Tschudi, 1844.

Meaning of Name: Anas: L. duck. Spatula: L. Spoon.

Formaerly known as Anas puna.

See more of the Family Anatidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
puna tealVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 11/09/2014.