The Eurasian Teal is Britain's smallest duck and, in the winter, can be found in large flocks at many coastal and inland locations.
It is also a scarce breeding species, with the majority of the population found in northern Scotland where they mostly nest on upland pools and marshes. In southeast England, however, their prefered breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lake margins with dense emergent vegetation.
Post-breeding, males moult into an eclipse plumage that closely resembles that of the female. The more cryptic colours provide the birds with greater camouflage during the vulnerable period when they are moulting their flight feathers. It is a very transitory plumage and the males moult back into their normal plumage soon after the wing moult is complete.
After preening and bathing, many ducks raise themselves out of the water and vigorously flap their wings to help settle their feathers back into the correct positions.
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