Garganey

Spatula querquedula (Linnaeus, 1758)

Garganey, Spatula querquedula, is a duck of the Palearctic, breeding from western Europe to Japan and spending the non-breeding season in western and central Africa, Asia and as far as New Guinea. It is a small dabbling duck, and its breeding places are grassland beside shallow marshes and steppe lakes. First described by Linnaeus in 1758, it is also noted for taking off readily from the water in a fast, twisting flight.

Order

Anseriformes

Family

Anatidae — Ducks, Geese, Swans

Breeding range

Palearctic: w Europe to Japan

Nonbreeding range

w, c Africa and Asia to New Guinea