Garganey

    Anas querquedula

Castilian: Cerceta carretona

Catalan: Xarrasclet

Gallego: Cerceta albela

Euskera: Udako zertzeta

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae

Migratory status: Passage migrant/Summer resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Vulnerable”.

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THREATS

The principal threat is the drying up of wetlands, since the species is very sensitive to long periods of drought. It is also affected by fishing, hunting, and lead poisoning and botulism.

Length / size: 37-41 cm / 60-63 cm

Identification: This species presents marked sexual dimorphism: the male's head and breast are brown with streaks, with a white stripe above the eye, a greyish back and scalpular feathers that hang off on both sides; the female is a brown speckled colour, with lighter parts on the throat and the corner of the bill, and a white stripe above the eye.

Song: The male makes a dry "prerrorrer" chattering sound, whereas the female is more silent and makes a nasal "ga ga ga" sound and a short and high-pitched quack.

Diet: It feeds on small fish, amphibian larvae and aquatic invertabrates, and it also consumes seeds, roots, grass and aquatic plants, which it obtains by filtering out water.

Reproduction: It can fall behind or even not breed at all if environmental conditions are unfavourable. The females builds the nest near wetlands, on dry land or among riverside vegetation. The chicks leave the nest a few hours after being born and feed themselves, although they are cared for by their mother.

HABITAT

It prefers freshwater wetlands that are shallow and have enough vegetation to hide itself and eat.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It breeds in low quantities in the Guadalquivir marshes and the Aiguamolls de I´Empordà. In other places, breedings spots and isolated and sporadic.

In Castile and León: Villafáfila is the most important area for this species, although in spring, when in passage, it can be seen in all the provinces.

Movements and migrations: Migratory species that appears in Spain between February and mid-April. It winters in freshwater wetlands in tropical Africa.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of less than 100 breeding pairs (2003 data).

In Castile and León: