Blue-winged Teal

Description:

the blue-winged teal can be identified by the large gray-blue patch seen on the upper wing while it is in flight. Both the cinnamon teal and northern shoveler also show a blue wing. It can be difficult to distinguish between a cinnamon and blue-winged teal in flight, but shovelers are easy to identify with their larger size and spoon-shaped bill. In full nuptial plumage, drake blue-winged teal are easy to identify with their white facial crescent bordering their bill and steel-blue head. Their under parts are cinnamon-colored and heavily speckled with black. The blue-wing patch has a white border on the rear separating it from a metallic green speculum. When not in mating plumage, the male closely resembles the female except for a darker bill, darker head and a white crescent in front of the bill. Female blue-winged teal are colored in mottled brown. They have an indistinct whitish patch at the base of the bill, a dark line through the eye and white patches above and below the eye. Their wings are a duller blue then the males, with a less distinct white border and the green speculum is darker and duller. It can be difficult to distinguish female blue-wings from cinnamon teal. However, cinnamon teal hens are a warmer brown, with a plainer face with indistinct or no dark eye line and a longer, more “spoon” shaped bill.

Habitat:

Wetlands