La imagen es autoría de Ferrán Pestaña. Licencia Creative Commons con algunos derechos reservados.

Species 1

Garganey

A small swimming duck, the male is identifiable by the white stripe that goes from above its eye to its nape, the long specular feathers are equally striking, and visible, with a whitish pattern, the flank is grey, and its breast is dark brown. The female can be identified by the striped pattern on its head, with a dark ridge and light cheeks

Scientific name

Spatula querquedula

Family 2

Anatidae

Taxonomic Affinity Group 3

Ducks

Phenology 4

It is known in some parts of the Iberian Peninsula as the “summer teal”, although it can be seen during the winter. In our area it has a clear prenuptial migratory behaviour. It comes to form large flocks that burst into the salt marshes, rest and continue their journey.

The graph represents the probability of seeing a species during the year, grouped into months. The vertical axis indicates the percentage value. Each of the bars expresses its value. The horizontal axis represents the months: I = January, II = February, III = March, IV = April, V = May, VI = June, VII = July, VIII = August, IX = September, X = October, XI = November and XII = December.

Observation recommendations

It is a bird which can be seen in the ‘Salinas’, especially in the ‘Salinas Viejas’ where they come in flocks. At sea it is easily observed when moving towards the east of the bay.

Observation areas where we can find it

Costa Line | Salinas Nuevas | Salinas Viejas

Notes

[1] The names used are from the list of birds of Spain, drawn up by SEO/BirdLife and updated to 2019 (https://seo.org/listaavesdeespana/). The reference is: Rouco, M., Copete, J. L., De Juana, E., Gil-Velasco, M., Lorenzo, J. A., Martín, M., Milá, B., Molina, B. & Santos, D. M. 2019. Checklist of the birds of Spain. 2019 edition. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.

[2] The taxonomic family to which it belongs is indicated.

[3] Traditionally, waterbirds have been grouped according to their taxonomy or “taxonomic affinity”, i.e., when some birds coincide in certain features that allow them to be classified scientifically, but without leaving the rigour of science, they are put together in these groups so that they can be easily recognised. These groups are the following: Greves (belonging to the Podicipedae family), Herons and Similar (includes the families: Ardeidae -Herons- Ciconiidae -Storks- and Threskiornithidae -Ibises and spoonbills-), Ducks (the whole Anatidae family), Coots and Similar (the family Rallidae corresponding to Rails, Gallinules and Coots), Cranes (also with only one family, the Gruidae), Waders , a heterogeneous group, the most diverse of this classification, includes the families Burhinidae (Stone-curlews), Haematopodidae (Oystercather), Recurvirostridade (Avocets and Stilts), Glareolidae (Pranticole), Charadriidadea (Plovers), Scolapacidae and finally Gulls and Similar (the recently unified family Laridae, i.e. Gulls and Terns).

[4] Phenology studies the relationship between the cycles of living beings and meteorological factors, and in our latitude these factors manifest themselves as variations throughout the year, thus relating the seasons to the birds’ cycles (breeding, migratory journeys, etc.) The graph shows the probability of seeing a bird depending on the month. It uses data from 48 bird censuses carried out between October 2016 and September 2018. The method used is that of a census route with sampling stations, with a total count on the sheet of water.