English: Baikal Teal, Spectacled Teal, Formosa Teal
Russian: Чирок-клоктун
German: Gluchente
French: Sarcelle elegante
Mongolian: Байгалийн нугас
Japanese: トモエガモ (Tomoe-gamo)

Body length: 39-43 cm

Status: Rare species. According to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, the species evaluated as-Vulnerable.

Habitat: N and E Siberian species. Declining. A few genuine European records, including in Britain, but also many escaped free-flying birds. In Mongolia first of migrating birds arrive in end of March, beginning of April, the last of migrating birds depart end April, beginning May. Migrate in flocks, families, and pairs. Migrating birds rest near open water sources, on banks of rivers, springs, lake shores, and graze in wet meadows and marshes with short vegetation.

Distribution and range in Mongolia: Winters in South-east Asia, China, Japan and recently 95% of the population winters in Korea. Global population is estimated to be about 800 thousands birds. Migrates through the Orkhon and Selenge River basins to the eastern border of Mongolia. Occasionally seen on the Buir Lake, and the Khalkh, Nomrog, Onon, Ulz and Kherlen Rivers basins very rarely seen on the Khuvsgul Lake.

Population and Threats: Population and distribution have not been assessed. In wintering areas the species can be found in numbers larger than 300 thousands.

Conservation Measures: Hunting prohibited since 1995. Listed as Rare animal in the Annex to the Mongolian Government Resolution #7 (2012), inluded in Appendix II, CITES. The habitat is partially included within the NSPANS. Some of the migration route is protected.  

Identification: Breeding ♂ unmistakable, with striking head pattern; white vertical narrow line at side of breast. Adult♀ an juveniles brownish and streaked like other teals, and wing and head patterns recall both ♀ Teal (often has a pale patch at base of tail-side) and ♀ Garganey (well-patterned head; rather similar wing pattern). Slightly larger and longer-tailed than Teal; bill thin and all grey; speculum is bordered pale rufous in front, not whitish, and white rear border always broader.

• Adult ♀: Head pattern distinctive, with small but very prominent and circular white loral spot (enhanced by dark surround); dark eye-stripe only behind eye, on many, a whitish bar or wedge runs from the white throat vertically up across the cheek towards eye; and sometimes there is a dusky kidney-shaped mark on the upper cheek.
• Adult ♂ eclipse: Like adult ♀, but plumage much richer rufous.
• Juvenile: Slightly duller brown-grey than adult ♀. Most similar to Teal, but usually told by more prominent pale loral spot with darker surround (not so conspicuous as on adult ♀, still usually more prominent than on any Teal), all-grey bill, and lack of midwing-bar.