Atlas of nesting birds in Bulgaria

Common Teal

(Anas crecca)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 2020: 0-6 pairs (2007: 2-15 pairs)

Distribution pattern

With isolated single breeding habitats in neighbouring squares, mainly along the Danube River, the Black Sea Coast and along the valleys of Struma and Maritsa Rivers in the Thracian Plain. Probably most pairs breed only in certain years. Summering non-breeding specimens can be observed during the breeding season.

Population estimation for the period 2013 – 2020: During the period 2013-2020, the species was not found in 14 squares, where it was registered before the year 2013. Deterioration of some of the habitats explains their disappearance, as well as the fact that most pairs breed only in certain years. New habitats have been established in two squares.

Population size in Special Protection Areas of Natura 2000: 0-5 pairs (83% of the population). The highest numbers have been registered in the SPAs “Atanasovsko Lake” (0-3 pairs), “Durankulak Lake” (0-1 pairs), and “Maritsa-Plovdiv” (0-1 pairs).

Big size map

Breeding distribution 2013 – 2020 – The distribution and the estimation of the population size of the species for the period 2013 – 2020 is presented –

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds in coastal lagoons, standing fresh waters and standing brackish waters, breeding in marshes (within water fringe vegetation) and in humid grassland communities), when situated on the banks of wetlands.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Short-term trend of population size:

Decreasing with non-intermittent fluctuations

Long-term trend of population size:

Decreasing with non-intermittent fluctuations

Short-term trend of distribution:

Decreasing with non-intermittent fluctuations

Long-term trend of distribution:

Decreasing with non-intermittent fluctuations

Threats

Drainage of wetlands, changes in the water levels and in the hydrological regime of water bodies during the breeding season, disturbance, poaching.

Svilen Chesmedjiev, Vladimir Mladenov