Blue-winged Teal

Anas discors

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Identification

Field notes

38-41 cm (15-16") Fairly common and widespread. Prairie potholes and sloughs, marshes, lakes, ponds, protected bays. Small surface feeding duck.

Male: gray head with distinctive large white crescent between eye and bill; mottled brown body; small white patch on side before tail; dark bill. Song: peeping whistles.

Female: mottled grayish brown overall; dark line through eye; white spot at base of slender dark bill. Very similar to female Green-winged and female Cinnamon teals.

In flight: small, fast flying in compact and agile flocks; light blue patch on forewing, green speculum.

Song: soft quacks.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

5 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Jamie Chavez

Credit: Daniel Arndt

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Blue winged Teal

Credit: Larry Bond

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Blue-winged Teal (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 6

What colour was the SIDE ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:729-blue-winged-teal-female:1:1 Source: 729 Blue-winged Teal (Female), row 1

Blue-winged Teal (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 6

What colour was the SIDE ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:728-blue-winged-teal-male:1:1 Source: 728 Blue-winged Teal (Male), row 1