Cinnamon Teal

Anas cyanoptera

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

38-43 cm (15-17") Common. Marshes, ponds, sewage lagoons, slow moving streams. Mostly a Western duck, especially of arid regions; casual in East. Small surface feeding duck.

Male: cinnamon head, neck and body; blackish back and wings; long dark bill. Interbreeds with Blue-winged Teal.

Female: Mottled brown overall; long dark bill. Looks very similar to females Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, and Northern Shoveler. Interbreeds with Blue-winged Teal.

In flight: like Blue-winged Teal, light blue patch on forewing, green speculum.

Song: "chuck" notes, soft quack.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Dan Dzurisin

Credit: Ken Schneider

Credit: Len Blumin

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Cinnamon Teal

Credit: Don DesJardin

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 4 rules

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

Cinnamon Teal (Female)

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 5

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
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 ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 ?: 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 ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:780-cinnamon-teal-female:1:1 Source: 780 Cinnamon Teal (Female), row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
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 ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 ?: 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 ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:780-cinnamon-teal-female:2:1 Source: 780 Cinnamon Teal (Female), row 2

Cinnamon Teal (Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 5

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:779-cinnamon-teal-male:1:1 Source: 779 Cinnamon Teal (Male), row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:779-cinnamon-teal-male:2:1 Source: 779 Cinnamon Teal (Male), row 2