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Story: Wetland birds

Brown teal – pāteke

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Brown teal – pāteke

These adult and young brown teal (pāteke) were photographed swimming along a Northland stream. An endangered species, the little brown birds are easily distinguished by their white eye rings. Following successful releases in Northland, pāteke are now becoming established there but face new hazards, including traffic and straying dogs.

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by Malcolm Pullman

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How to cite this page

Christina Troup, Wetland birds – Teal, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14638/brown-teal-pateke (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Christina Troup, published 9 March 2015.