The teal is the smallest of our common ducks in the UK. Males have chestnut heads with a green eye patch, a spotted body with an often prominent white flash along the body and a cream patch at the rear. The females are not so visible with a combination of brown and grey plumage. Both sexes have a green speculum (wing bar) but this is usually hidden except in flight.
As with many of our duck species, the UK population is joined in winter by birds from continental Europe. The UK breeding population is around 2700 pairs and the wintering population around 400,000 birds.
Pete's Favourite Things 