Teal (Marbeled)

This Mediterranean medium-sized duck used to be included among the dabbling ducks, but is now classed as a diving duck.

Its breeding habitat is lowland where they lay their eggs in long grass or in high trees in Spain and northwest Africa. They may lay 7 to 10 cream eggs.

The Marbled Duck is approximately 15–17 in long. Adults are a pale sandy-brown colour, diffusely blotched off-white, with a dark eye-patch and shaggy head.

These birds feed mainly in shallow water by dabbling or up-ending, occasionally diving.

This bird is considered vulnerable due to a reduction in population caused by habitat destruction and hunting.

Photographed at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Orlando, FL