Size: Length; 48cm. Weight; 500g.

Habitat and Distribution: Sudan and Ethiopia to Namibia and South Africa. Shallow lagoons, rivers and by the coast.

Groups and Breeding: Nest in hollow scrape in the ground, lined with down. Lay up to 11 eggs which are incubated for around 30 days.

Diet: Aquatic invertebrates, small amphibians, seeds, leaves and stems.

• Cape Teal are one of the few species of dabbling ducks where the male remains with the female and helps raise the young. Because both parents raise the ducklings, fewer offspring die. Cape Teal are good parents and will vigorously defend their young even against larger birds.
• One of the 147 species of the Anatidae family, which are all ducks, geese and swans, more commonly known as wildfowl or waterfowl.
• Waterfowl bodies are adapted for a highly aquatic life, with webbed feet for swimming and a body shaped to improve buoyancy in the water and a thick covering of feathers for insulation. Different species specialise to fill different niches.  
• All species have an oil-gland which is used whilst preening to maintain waterproofing of their feathers; the oil-gland is highly developed in this family.
• All species have salt glands above each eye, which filter the blood and excrete excess salt.
• Wildfowl have had a long association with humans; the Mallard is the direct ancestor of almost all current breeds of domestic duck. Humans utilise this family for meat, eggs, and feathers and in some countries they are even kept around houses to control insect numbers.