Yellow-billed teal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-billed teal |
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| Sharp-winged teal, A. f. oxyptera | |
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| Genus: |
Anas
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| Species: |
flavirostris
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The yellow-billed teal (scientific name: Anas flavirostris) is a type of duck found in South America. It's known for its bright yellow bill! This duck belongs to a large group of ducks called Anas, which includes many different kinds of teals.
You can find the yellow-billed teal in several South American countries, including Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Brazil. It also lives on the Falkland Islands. This duck has even started living and raising its young on South Georgia Island since 1971. Sometimes, it's seen as far away as Tristan da Cunha.
Yellow-billed teals love to live in freshwater wetlands. They especially like marshy areas (called palustrine habitat) more than fast-flowing rivers. Because there are so many of them and they live in a wide area, the IUCN (a group that tracks animal populations) says they are not in danger.
What Does the Yellow-Billed Teal Look Like?
The yellow-billed teal gets its name from its bright yellow bill. This bill has a black tip and a black stripe along the top.
This duck looks a bit like the larger yellow-billed pintail. However, the yellow-billed teal has a darker head and a shorter neck. Its sides are also a plain grayish color.
Yellow-Billed Teal Family Tree
Scientists study the DNA of animals to understand how they are related. The yellow-billed teal's DNA is surprisingly similar to the green-winged teal, even though they look very different!
The yellow-billed teal is special among its relatives. After mating, the male ducks (called drakes) stretch up tall. They then swim around and next to the female ducks.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the yellow-billed teal:
- Sharp-winged teal (Anas flavirostris oxyptera): This type lives in the high mountains of central Peru, northern Chile, and Argentina. It was first described by Franz Meyen in 1834.
- Chilean teal (Anas flavirostris flavirostris): This type lives in southern South America, reaching as far north as southern Brazil and northern Argentina. It also lives in the Falkland Islands. This was the first type described by Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1816.
Long ago, the yellow-billed teal and the Andean teal were thought to be the same species. But now, most scientists agree they are two different species.
Gallery
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A sharp-winged teal (A. f. oxyptera) in Peru
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A preserved specimen of Anas flavirostris oxyptera from the MHNT museum
