What does the Hottentot Teal eat?

The Hottentot Teal's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Omnivore (primarily aquatic invertebrates and plant matter)

How it forages

A dabbling duck, feeding by tipping its head and forequarters into the water to reach submerged vegetation and invertebrates. It also filters surface water for small organisms and grazes on emergent vegetation. Diet includes aquatic insects, larvae, small crustaceans, mollusks, seeds, and leaves of aquatic plants.

When it feeds

Diurnal, most active during early morning and late afternoon.

Explore the Hottentot Teal