5-7-2017 EL FONDO, ALICANTE - MARBLED TEAL (Marmaronetta angustirostris)

The Marbled Duck, or Marbled Teal, is a medium-sized duck adorned with a pale sandy-brown plumage, intricately mottled with off-white markings. Its scientific name, Marmaronetta angustirostris, reflects its marbled appearance and narrow bill. The species is characterized by a distinctive dark eye-patch and a somewhat shaggy head. Adults span approximately 39–42 cm in length, with females typically being slightly smaller than males. Juveniles resemble adults but exhibit more pronounced off-white blotching.

When identifying the Marbled Duck, look for its unique pale coloration and marbled pattern. The lack of a speculum on the secondaries and the pale wings without a marked pattern are key features to note in flight. The dark eye-patch and shaggy head are also distinctive characteristics that aid in identification.

The Marbled Duck favors temporary and shallow fresh, brackish, or alkaline waters with densely vegetated shores. These habitats are often found in otherwise dry regions and may include coastal lagoons, slow-moving rivers, and man-made reservoirs.

Once widespread across the Mediterranean region, the Marbled Duck's range has now contracted to select areas in southern Spain, southern Italy, northwest Africa, and the broader Levant. Its presence extends to the Mesopotamian marshland in southern Iraq, Iran, and isolated pockets in Armenia, Azerbaijan, South European Russia, western India, and western China.

This species exhibits nomadic tendencies, with some populations dispersing from breeding grounds to winter in the Sahel zone, south of the Sahara. The Marbled Duck is gregarious, often forming flocks, which can be small or, in some cases, quite large, particularly in wintering areas like Khuzestan, Iran.

Marbled Ducks breed in habitats with dense vegetation along the water's edge. They lay an average of 12 eggs in nests that are typically on the ground but may occasionally be found among reeds or on reed-made structures.

The diet of the Marbled Duck consists mainly of seeds from plants like Scirpus and Ruppia, invertebrates such as aquatic insect larvae and pupae, tiny crustaceans, and ants. They are equipped with a gizzard to break down seeds and lamellae in their beak for filter-feeding on zooplankton. Juveniles primarily consume invertebrates and small seeds, lacking the developed gizzard of adults.

The Marbled Duck is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. The species faces threats from habitat destruction and hunting, leading to a decline in its population. It is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).