Garganey

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Shallow marshes (summer).
Diet: Seeds, invertebrates.
Best time to spot: Only summer-migrant duck in UK.

When to look

A summer visitor, typically in the UK from March to September. Numbers peak in April. See the April birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in UK winter wildfowl.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

How rare is it?

The Garganey sits in our Rare tier for the UK: scarce or very local, so most birders need a planned trip. It is Amber-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the middle level of concern in the UK. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Where to see it

Reserves where the Garganey is on the list:

• RSPB Titchwell Marsh

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Blue-winged TealEpic · Shallow pools
• Northern ShovelerUncommon · Marshes
• Black-winged StiltRare · Shallow freshwater marshes
• Green-winged TealRare · Marshes (winter vagrant)
• Black-throated DiverRare · Highland lochs (summer)
• Citrine WagtailRare · Marshes (rare passage)

Kit that helps

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