BLUE-WINGED TEAL AND PINTAIL

The Garganey or Blue-winged Teal (Anas querquedula) is a winter visitor to India and is one of the earliest ducks to arrive in the North West of India. The pinkish brown head, speckled with white and bluish grey patches on the wings and shoulders distinguishes the male. Their flight is very fast. They feed mainly on young shoots of rice and wheat, thereby causing considerable damage to crops. The Pintail or the Pin-tailed Duck is slender and graceful duck with a long neck and long, pointed, pin-like feathers projecting beyond the tail. The brown head and the white line running down the sides of the neck distinguish the male. It is one of the commonest of the wild ducks visiting India in winter. They feed largely on waterweeds and also on grubs, molluscs and crabs.