Teal-cracker belongs to one of the smallest species of duck. This bird is usually shunned by people, so the study of its habits and lifestyle in natural conditions is not easy for scientists. Nevertheless, we managed to collect some data.
During observations of a teal crackler, it was possible to establish his favorite habitats, what he eats, how he builds nests and raises offspring. If you want to learn more about this mysterious feathered creation, which you most likely will never have to face in real life, read this article to the end.
Appearance
An average teal weighs only 300-400 g, and its body length usually does not exceed 40 cm. If you accidentally see a bird flying fast and with good maneuverability, small size and brown color - this may well be a teal cracker. The female has the same color throughout the year: her feathers create brown-beige ripples. On both sexes of teal crackers, the beak and paws are gray.
The head and neck of the male are covered with brown feathers, the belly and underwig are white with dark spots, and the top of the body is gray-brown. Interestingly, during the mating season, the feathers above the eyes of the male are painted white, forming the shape of a crescent. On wings with a wingspan, gray-blue mirrors with a white border are clearly visible. Young teal-cracking teal is almost indistinguishable from females.
Habitat
Cracking teal can be found in Europe and Asia, which runs in temperate latitudes. However, they winter, gathering in large flocks in India, Australia, Indochina, the southern part of the African continent and in the Mediterranean countries.
Teal cracker loves to settle near the water. The best place for him is a small open pond, surrounded by dense vegetation, not far from which there is a meadow. Sometimes a bird can nest away from the river, but it certainly will not choose mountain or forest areas.
Nutrition and habits
The basis of the nutrition of a teal cracker is food of animal origin. Typically, these are mollusks, worms, crustaceans, fish fry and eggs, leeches, insects and their larvae. Teal can supplement its diet with rice, sorrel, sedge and various seeds. He has to do this when the molting period comes and he cannot fly.
A teal flies from warm regions to the nesting place (a photo of the flight is presented at the end of the article) later than other relatives, and flies away for wintering before anyone else. His flight is usually quiet and maneuverable. A female crackling teal is usually silent and only occasionally makes a quack. But the male completely lives up to its name - quite often it makes an inimitable crackle. Some compare the sound of a teal crackler with the sounds that are heard when you drag your fingers along the teeth of a plastic scallop.
Mating season
Like almost every other duck, the chick-teal reaches puberty in the first year of life, however, it returns to the nesting area only in the second year. Depending on the habitat, different flocks of teal flies arrive at the nesting area from late March to May. They immediately split into pairs and begin their marriage games.
The drake swims around the female with her beak lowered into the water, abruptly throws back her head, tilts her to one side, or shakes her. He ruffles feathers and can demonstrate the wingspan slightly rising above the water. All this is accompanied by a typical loud crack. The female also behaves unusually during this period: she twitches her head, cleans her feathers from behind and softly grunts.
Nesting and incubation
Usually a teal nests in high thickets near the water. The photo below illustrates a cozy nest created by caring, feathered parents from dry grass for the expected offspring. You can distinguish a nest of a teal-cracker by white feathers woven around its perimeter with brown spots.
Each year, a teal-cracker, having created a pair, leaves behind offspring, which totals an average of 8-9 individuals. The maximum laying of the female is 14 eggs. On eggs that are light or dark brown in color, only the female sits. The hatching process takes an average of 22-23 days. The drake at this time goes to molt. After 35-40 days, the chicks are able to fly.
Number
At present, the cracking teal is not threatened with extinction. However, from the 70s to 90s of the last century there was a sharp decline in the population of this species in the countries of the former USSR and Western Europe. The reasons for this situation include the structure of reservoirs and dams, as well as the drainage of water bodies on which the teal likes to settle.
Behind a teal crackler, a large number of cases were noted when, after being frightened off, he completely abandoned the masonry. In other cases, sensing danger, the female freezes and becomes completely invisible, because of which the masonry is often crushed. All this is the reason that there are very few crackers in places where people live.
Captive and hunting
In captivity, teal crackers are very rare. They are fed with seeds, corn, oats, millet or mixed feeds. They are thermophilic, therefore in winter birds should be sheltered from the cold and drafts. In captivity, they quickly get used to people. Contain these birds to decorate the pond and hunt.
Domestic teals are used as decoy ducks when hunting wild teal crackers and teal whistles. Hearing the voice of their relatives, teals decide that the place where it comes from is safe and fodder. Seeing and hearing their own kind, they boldly advance towards them, to the delight of the hunters.
A teal crackler is a small bird that can rarely be contemplated lively, as it eschews humans. So far, fortunately, almost nothing is threatening the survival of these birds. They are not of great interest to hunters, they are rarely bred in captivity, they are not affected by deforestation, and they wait for cold winters in warm places.