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Project Noah Nature School
Anas cyanoptera
... just a delicious looking duck, Anas the 'puddle duck' that nibbles beneath the water and can spring directly into flight. It's All Cinnamon all the time, 'cept for some philagre on it's back and darker tail feathers. The female almost looks like the Blue-winged Teal in the 4th pic without the 'blue'. It isn't unusal but certainly not common either for the Blue and Cinnamon to hybridize. Forgot about the Eyes...after 2 months the male eyes are Red...to red orange! almost looks like i didn't have the Red-eye camera gizmo on.
They're a Western US duck ~ West of the Mississippi from Montana! down to West Texas and all states West of that line. Winters along the West coast down through Mexico. It likes marshy areas with enough water to swim 'n dabble in. We have an abundance of water starting this year in fact the Great Plains are submerged and water fowl are everywhere!
These pix were taken at several different places 30 miles northwest of Billings MT. i have a mess of Cinnamon Teal pix. In the first pic here that's a female Wilson's Phalarope ~ they're hang'n out in the same puddle ... They were taken 5.28 thru 6.28, 2011
Spotted on May 28, 2011
Submitted on Oct 9, 2011
3 Comments
I never saw this duck before...and I am glued to Animal Planet most days :) Thanks for the info too!
I've been waiting for one of these as well! The 2nd is such a lovely photo. You may want to consider putting it first.
Lovely pictures and good information. Thanks.