Birds Of Japan 33:Eurasian Teal-日本の野鳥33: コガモ

Eurasian Teal コガモ Scientific name: Anas creccaThe Eurasian Teal is a small dabbling duck and one of the most familiar winter ducks in Japan. In Japanese it is called コガモ / Kogamo, meaning “small duck.” It is noticeably smaller than Mallards and Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, often gathering in groups on calm rivers, ponds, marshes, lakes, and reed-fringed wetlands.The male in winter plumage has a chestnut-brown head with a glossy green eye patch, gray patterned body, and a yellowish patch near the tail. The female is mottled brown and more camouflaged, but both sexes can show a green wing patch in flight. Canon’s bird guide notes that Eurasian Teal come to Japan as winter birds and settle on rivers and marshes, often preferring watery areas with reeds and narrower water surfaces. 

Eurasian Teal コガモ

The Eurasian Teal is a small dabbling duck and a common winter visitor to Japan. It is often seen on ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, rice fields, wetlands, and sheltered coastal waters. The male has a chestnut head with a glossy green eye patch, a gray body, and a yellowish tail patch, while the female is mottled brown and well camouflaged.

This duck feeds by dabbling at the water surface or tipping forward in shallow water, eating seeds, aquatic plants, small insects, and other tiny water organisms. It often gathers in flocks during winter and may rest quietly on open water or along muddy edges.

Category

Ducks, Dabbling Ducks, Waterbirds

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Habitat

Ponds, Lakes, Rivers, Marshes, Rice Fields, Wetlands, Coastal Waters

Region

Japan in Winter, Europe, Asia, North Africa

Behavior

Dabbling, Flocking, Winter Migration, Shallow-water Feeding

Population

Common Winter Visitor in Suitable Wetland Habitat

コガモ Eurasian Teal

コガモは、日本に冬鳥として渡来する小型のカモの仲間です。池、湖、 河川、沼、湿地、田んぼ、干潟、波の静かな沿岸部などでよく見られます。 オスは栗色の頭に光沢のある緑色の目の周りの模様、灰色の体、 黄色みのある尾の横の斑が特徴で、メスは褐色のまだら模様で 水辺の環境によく溶け込みます。

水面でくちばしを使って採食したり、浅い水の中で逆立ちするように 体を傾けたりしながら、種子、水草、小さな昆虫、水中の小さな生き物などを 食べます。冬には群れで行動することが多く、開けた水面や泥の多い水辺で 静かに休む姿もよく観察されます。

Category

カモ科、小型のカモ、水鳥

IUCN Status

低危険種

Habitat

池、湖、河川、沼、湿地、田んぼ、干潟、沿岸部

Region

冬の日本、ヨーロッパ、アジア、北アフリカ

Behavior

水面採食、群れで行動、冬の渡り、浅い水辺での採食

Population

適した湿地環境では普通に見られる冬鳥