One of the most numerous ducks in Australia, capable of forming enormous flocks exceeding a hundred thousand birds.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyDucks, Geese, and Waterfowl
SizeLarge
RarityCommon
HabitatThe grey teal nests near its favoured freshwater lakes and marshes, usually on the ground, but also in tree holes or rabbit burrows.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from October to April.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by JJSUN
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
588454approx records
7states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Plain grayish mottled duck with a rounded crown. Note plain face lacking the bold stripes of Pacific Black Duck. White wing panels are distinctive in flight compared to purple/green of Pacific Black Duck. Told from female Chestnut Teal by the much paler neck/throat.
Behavior
One of the most common ducks in many waterways, forming enormous flocks numbering in the 1000s.
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
New South Wales
Tasmania
Western Australia
Victoria
South Australia
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory