Blue-winged Teal

Anas discorsOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)
Blue-winged Teal Male Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Spatulate
  • Eye color: Brown iris
  • Head Pattern: Capped, Plain, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown color: White, Gray
  • Forehead color: White, Brown
  • Nape Color: Purple-gray
  • Throat color: Purple or Violet, Brown, Gray
  • Cere color:
Blue-winged Teal: Male

Body

  • Length Range: 38-43 cm (15-17 in)
  • Weight: 408 g (14.4 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: Purple or Violet, Tan, White, Brown, Gray
  • Underparts: Buff with dark brown spotting.
  • Upperparts: Buff and brown.
  • Back Pattern: Scaled or Scalloped, Mottled
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Spotted or speckled
Blue-winged Teal Male Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Direct flight with steady quick wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 58-78 cm (23-31 in)
  • Wing Shape: Tapered-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Pointed Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Brown
  • Under Tail: Brown
  • Leg color: Orange, Yellow
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Family Surface-feeding Duck (Anatidae)_blue
Species Anas discors
Length15 - 17 Inches
Wingspan27 Inches

Blue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal: Small dabbling duck, purple-gray head, distinct white crescent on face. Upperparts are scaled buff, dark brown; underparts are pale brown with numerous dark spots. Wings have green speculum, pale blue shoulder patch visible in flight. Fast direct flight with steady wing beats.

● Song: "tsee tsee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Blue-winged Teal: Diet includes aquatic invertebrates, aquatic vegetation, and seeds; forages in shallow water and mudflats.

● Breeding & nesting: Blue-winged Teal: Six to fifteen white to olive eggs are laid in a ground hollow filled with grass and weeds and lined with down. Nest is built by the female and usually hidden in tall grass near water. Incubation ranges from 22 to 27 days and is carried out by the female. Young fly in 35 to 49 days.

● Similar species: Blue-winged Teal: Adult male is unmistakable; immature and eclipse male resemble female.

Flight Pattern

Direct flight with steady quick wing beats.
Blue-winged Teal: Male
● Range & Habitat: Blue-winged Teal: Breeds in northern prairies and parklands of central North America and spends winters from Central America and the Caribbean south to Peru and northeastern Brazil. Preferred nesting habitats include wetland areas within grasslands, such as marshes, ponds, and lakes. Winter habitats are mostly swamps and shallow wetlands.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationCommon in the East, Uncommon in the West
MigrationMigratory
Weight14.4 Ounces