(anas crecca)
The (Eurasian) Teal is a familiar bird on many inland waters and, in winter, on estuarine bays. The winter numbers are increased by the presence of northern migrants. Even although it is a common bird, the estimate for Scottish breeding pairs is only around 3000. As a permitted wild fowling target species it is usually extremely wary and unapproachable. On the Loch Lomond NNR there are often flocks in excess of 400 birds which fly low and fast across the marsh when disturbed. The bird is named after its call which is a clear, ringing whistled 'treel' - a familiar sound of winter marshes. In protected areas and park ponds they become habituated to human presence and can then become quite tame.
The North American bird known as Green-winged Teal or Carolina Teal is usually regarded as a separate species and is a regular vagrant to the UK though numbers are confused by escapes from wildfowl collections.