Ringed Teal

Callonetta leucophrys

One of the world's smallest ducks, a tree-perching duck of South American wetlands that nests in tree holes.

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About the Ringed Teal

Ringed teals live in wetlands and ponds in southern Bolivia, Paraguay, southwestern Brazil, and parts of Argentina and Uruguay. They are one of the smallest ducks in the world, and an adult weighs about 12 ounces. Because they are so small, they can perch on tree branches that larger ducks can't use. They feed on plants by dabbling at the water's surface.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Callonetta leucophrys^[1]
Weight: About 12 ounces (340 g).^[1]
Diet: Plants, gathered by dabbling.^[1]
Habitat: Wetlands and ponds.^[1]
Where it lives: Southern Bolivia, Paraguay, southwestern Brazil, and parts of Argentina and Uruguay.^[1]
Group life: Pairs form strong bonds; some mate for life.^[1]
Babies: 6 to 11 eggs in a tree cavity. Both parents incubate.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).^[2]

Fun facts

Ringed teals are one of the smallest ducks in the world.^[1]
Unlike most ducks, ringed teals like to perch in trees.^[1]
Both the male and the female sit on the eggs.^[1]

Vocabulary

dabble: To feed at the water's surface by tipping forward with the tail up.
perch: To sit on a branch or other high place.
cavity: A hole or hollow space, like a hole in a tree.
incubate: To keep eggs warm so the babies inside can grow and hatch.
waterfowl: Birds such as ducks, geese and swans that live on or near water.

See it in person

Montgomery ZooMontgomery, Alabama · Flight AviarySee this area on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Saint Louis Zoo. “Ringed Teal.” https://stlzoo.org/animals/birds/waterfowl/ringed-teal (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Callonetta leucophrys (Ringed Teal).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22680101/92843247 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

More Waterfowl

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White-Faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduataA long-necked duck of Africa and South America with a white face that whistles instead of quacking and often perches in trees.