simultaneously. If we have to draw a tendency we could say that body moult (including wings) generally occurs between the months of January to March when it is late summer or early winter. Juveniles will undergo a complete moult of the entire body other than the wings, occurring in the first autumn or early winter. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Sunda teal, as Anas gibberifrons gracilis. Widespread throughout its large range, the grey teal is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Range Natural global range The grey teal can be found as a breeding species in the following places across the globe; Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and Indonesia. However, it can also be seen in the Solomons and New Caledonia where it is vagrant. New Zealand range The grey teal is a self-introduced species to New Zealand from Australia, where it is much more abundant. It was rare in New Zealand until the 1950s when several natural events in Australia led to a huge increase in numbers. Now it is a very common waterbird that can be found throughout New Zealand. However, there are areas where the species are more concentrated (larger populations) such as the districts of Hawke's Bay, Waikato, South Auckland and Otago. Grey teal are also more likely to be found in the Canterbury region and more specifically around Lake Ellesmere. Anas gracilis has also been seen wandering in the small New Zealand islands such as Chatham Islands (July 1951, December 1998) or Snares Islands (November 1987). In general the New Zealand grey teal population is smaller than the Australian population. Habitat The grey teal prefers to live in habitats of shallow water areas including lagoons, swamps and shallow freshwater lakes. Preference for shallower waters means that it is easier for ducklings to be able to swim and eat, which aids the rearing and survival of juveniles. The grey teal also prefers areas that have a sizeable marginal cover (meaning sufficient plant and vegetation growth around the margins), therefore they are not often seen in open spaces. Although it tends to choose freshwater sites during the breeding season, it is also known to be seen in coastal/salt waters occasionally, as well as slightly brackish waters. In terms of elevation the grey teal does not tend to populate in areas above above sea level; instead it prefers areas