214 
ANAS CRECCA 
DISTRIBUTION 
Iceland 
The Common Teal is a palsearctic species widely distributed through Europe and Asia, wintering 
also in Africa and straggling to North America. Its breeding range may be roughly described as 
lying between the 35th and 73d parallels of north latitude, and this in itself is quite 
remarkable for extent. Within this area it has been found breeding in Iceland, where it 
has been recorded many times, earlier records being summed up by the most recent writer, Hantzsch 
(1905). According to him it is not rare in Iceland and apparently has a rather wide distribution 
Faroes Miiller (1869) states that it is not uncommon in summer on the 
Faroes, and he believes that some may breed. It nests on the Shetlands (R. Gray, 
Shetlands 
Scotland 
England 
Ireland 
Norway 
Sweden 
Finland 
Lapland 
1871; Saxby, 1874) and farther south is known as a common breeder through Scotland 
(R. Gray, 1871). According to Stonham (1908) it is even increasing as a breeder in the 
Outer Hebrides. In England it nests more sparingly, becoming almost rare as a breeder 
in the southern counties (Seebohm, 1885; F. O. Morris, 1903; Millais, 1902; etc.); but 
it is apparently abundant in Wales (Stonham, 1908). It is known as a breeder in Ire- 
land, whence it has been recorded nesting in suitable localities in every county (W. Thompson, 1851; 
Ussher and Warren, 1900). 
On the Continent the species breeds in suitable places throughout Scandinavia, where it is found 
even in the mountains. Representative authorities for Norway are Collett (1873) 
and Schaanning (1913). Sommerfeldt (fide Dresser, 1871-81) has reported it from 
Varanger Fjord in the extreme north in summer. For Sweden we have the testimony 
of many writers, among them Nilsson (1858) (South Skane) and Wallengren (1854) 
(Gotland). Apparently the species is everywhere a common breeder in the Scandina- 
vian peninsula. In Finland and Lapland also, it appears to be exceedingly abundant. 
Records for Lapland include, among others, those of Nilsson (1858), Suomalainen (1912) (Lapland 
Enontekiensis, 22° east longitude, 68° 30' north latitude) and Finnila (1913) who recorded it from 
Sodankyla (68° north latitude, 28° east longitude), Malmgren (Enare-Lapland, 69°) and von Nord- 
mann (1864) (Lapland to the Arctic Sea). Pleske (1886) speaks of the species as a common breeder 
in the Kola Peninsula and adduces many authorities for the statement. In Finland it breeds every- 
where, according to Palmen (1876) as far north as Utsjoki, 69° 30', which of course includes Lapland. 
It is a very common breeder in central Finland (Suomalainen, 1908), and nests also in eastern 
Denmark Finland (Schaanning, 1907), as well as in the northern parts (Dresser, 1871-81). In 
Netherlands Denmark it has been recorded breeding by Kjarbolling (1850). Dubois (1912) states 
that it nests in Belgium and the same is true of Holland (Schlegel, 1859). It breeds in 
the greater part of France, perhaps throughout the whole of the country (Ternier 
and Masse, 1907; Paris, 1907). W. E. Clarke (1895) states that a few are said to breed in the Rhone 
Delta, and I’Hermitte (1916) says that some are resident in Provence, but I have been unable to 
find any proof of its breeding in southwestern France. Tait (1887) says he was told of its nesting at 
Angeja and near Tuey in northern Portugal, but he was unable to substantiate this statement from 
personal experience. Its breeding in southern Spain seems to be certain, for though 
Irby (1875) was not sure that the species was “resident” there, H. Noble (1902) suc- 
ceeded in finding a nest in Andalucia. A. Chapman and Buck (1910) state that it is a rare breeder, 
presumably on the marismas, while H. Saunders (1871) also says that a few breed, referring, I sup- 
pose, to Andalucia. The Teal breeds in the Azores archipelago on Flores (Godman, 
1870) and on San Miguel (Chaves, Hartert and Ogilvie-Grant, 1905). Harcourt 
(1851) says it nests in Madeira, and Thanner (Ornith. Monatsb., vol. 17, p. 31, 1909) 
has recorded its nesting on Fuerteventura in the Canaries. According to Salvadori 
(1865) and Giglioli (1889-91) a few breed in Sardinia, but Brooke (1873) says many do 
so. As far as I know, it has never been recorded breeding in Corsica. Malherbe (1843) 
France 
Spain 
Azores 
Canaries 
Sardinia 
Corsica 
