Tag Archives: Dabbling Duck

Child’s Book of Water Birds ~ The Teal

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The Teal

Child's Book of Water Birds - Book Cover

Child’s Book of Water Birds – Book Cover

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Childs Bk of Water Birds titlebird

NEW YORK

LEAVITT & ALLEN.

1855.

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Welcome to the Updated Child’s Book of Water Birds, by Anonymous. It was written in 1855 and this is 2013. That is 158 years ago.

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Childs Bk of Water Birds teal

THE TEAL.

The Teal is the smallest of the ducks. The Green-winged Teal is the American. It feeds on fresh-water insects, seeds, and aquatic plants. When fat it is considered a great luxury. It is almost always seen on well furnished tables. It generally feeds at night. It flies very swiftly, and utters a whistling cry.

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Male Green-winged Teal at Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL

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Update:

This dabbling duck (the Green-winged Teal) flies south in the winter and will form large flocks.

This is the smallest North American dabbling duck. The male has grey flanks and back, with a yellow rear end and a white-edged green feathers. It has a chestnut head with a green eye patch.  a vertical white stripe on side of breast. The females are light brown.

Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) Pair ©WikiC

14 Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) Pair ©WikiC

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It is a common duck of sheltered wetlands, usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing.  It nests on the ground, near water and under cover.

This is a noisy species. The male has a clear whistle, whereas the female has a feeble “quack”.

We also have Blue-winged Teals and Cinnamon Teals here in America.

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See the other five Child’s Book of Water Birds:

The Swan

The Coot

The Dabchick

The Goose

The Oyster Catcher

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Green-winged Teal – WhatBird

Blue-winged Teal – WhatBird

Cinnamon Teal – WhatBird

Birdwatching Terms – Dabbling duck

Bible Birds

Wordless Birds

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Child's Book of Water Birds - Levit and Allen
*** PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHILD'S BOOK OF WATER BIRDS ***

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Birdwatching Term – Dabbling Duck

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Blue-Winged-Teal-Dabbling ©Flyways USFWS

Blue-Winged-Teal-Dabbling ©Flyways USFWS

Dabbling Duck

What does it mean when a duck “dabbles” or is a “dabbling duck”?

This group of ducks has been so named because its members feed mainly on vegetable matter by upending on the water surface, or grazing, and only rarely dive. These are mostly gregarious ducks of freshwater or estuaries. These birds are strong fliers and northern species are highly migratory. Compared to other types of duck, their legs are placed more towards the centre of their bodies. They walk well on land, and some species feed on land.

Puddle ducks generally feed on the surface of the water or feed on very shallow bottoms. They are not equipped to dive down several feet like their diving counterparts. The most predominant difference between puddle ducks and divers are the size of the feet. A puddle duck’s feet are generally smaller because they do not need the extra propulsion to dive for their forage.

Another distinguishing characteristic of puddle ducks when compared to diving ducks is the way in which they take flight when spooked or are on the move.

Puddle ducks spring straight up from the water, and diving ducks need to gain momentum to take off, so they must run across the water a short distance to gain flight.

These Ducks belong to the Anatine sub-family of the Swans, Geese, and Duck Family.

Mallard-Takes-Off ©Flyways USFWS

Mallard-Takes-Off ©Flyways USFWS

For the younger reader:

What does it mean when a duck “dabbles” or is a “dabbling duck”?

They are called that because these ducks feed mainly on vegetable matter (plants) by upending on the water surface (They put their head in the water to eat and their tail section is all that is seen above the water.) or grazing, and only rarely dive.

When they take flight, they spring straight up from the water. The Diving ducks have to sort of run to take-off.

(Wikipedia with editing)

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? (Mat 6:26 AMP)

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See:

Swans, Geese, and Duck Family.

Dabbling Ducks – Flyways.us

Dabbling Ducks – Wikipedia

More Birdwatching Terms

Wordless Birds

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