Like other peregrines, the Wakefield peregrines occasionally catch duck and their favourite species is teal. This skull is from a teal taken last winter. The base of the skull is missing because it was badly fractured. Peregrines often kill their prey by biting the back of the head. Along the edge of the bill, you can see the pectin – the comb-like structure that the teal uses for filtering its food from mud and water. A close-up shows how interesting the design of the pectin is.
Teal pecttin detail
Teal Beak
Teal skull
Teal Beak