Garganey

Anas querquedula

Praslacha shamhraidh

Status: Scarce summer visitor to wetlands from March to September.

Conservation Concern: Amber-listed in Ireland. The European population is undergoing a moderate continuing decline.

Identification: Slightly larger than Teal. Adult males are very distinctive, having a broad white supercilium. The rest of the body is a warm brown, except for the densely barred greyish flanks. Adult female Garganey are very similar to female Teal, having a subtly different head pattern (small white supercilium and white throat patch). Also has a grey instead of the distinctive green of the Teal, though this requires close views in good light. Juvenile Garganey are very similar to females.

Similar Species: Teal

Call: Generally silent when seen in Ireland

Diet: Feeds on a variety of plant seeds, pondweeds, grasses, as well as aquatic macro-invertebrates (beetles, midges).

Breeding: Only occasionally breeds in Ireland on well-vegetated ponds. Migrants can be seen anywhere in Ireland, though predominantly in the south and east. Garganey breed from Europe eastwards to Central Asia.

Wintering: A summer visitor to Ireland and Europe, with the population wintering in central Africa. 

Where to see: Tacumshin Lake in south County Wexford is one of the most reliable sites to see Garganey in Ireland.

Monitored by: Irish Wetland Bird Survey and BirdTrack.